Lauren SA Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 So I haven't posted here before but I am super excited to share my results, because: hey I'm pretty happy and I've become one of those annoying converts who can't talk about anything but paleo! I finished my Whole 30 on June 11th. A bit of history.... This has been the first time ever in my life I've ever attempted to change my diet. I have always had weird food issues and started life an extremely picky eater. Pretty much the only meat I have eaten my whole life has been hot dogs, bacon and salami. I grew up on bread, pasta cheese and butter and disliked almost all vegetables. I have been mostly vegetarian for the last 10 years since I left college, I have ever so slowly gained weight and became more sedentary. I insisted that eating whatever I wanted of delicious good food (read: cheese and flour based things) was very important in life. When I turned 29 last year, I realized I was no longer maintaining my weight, but had climbed up to about 170 pounds from college at 135. So in the beginning of 2012, I was newly single and determined to finally do something about my health and fitness. I joined the gym in January and roller derby in March, and tried to eat more fresh veggies. I found myself making very few strides, even working out 4 days a week and eating piles of cauliflower. I had no energy from the veggies alone, but I did start losing weight. I went from 170lbs in 2011 to 166lbs, but had 42% body fat. I had heard about paleo through distant friends for a couple years, but when my best friend went paleo and lost 30 pounds in 3 months, I decided that maybe there is something to this paleo thing. So in December 2012 I started researching it. I decided to start eating my own version of still mostly vegetarian paleo, loaded with lots of cheese, a little meat and still eating soy and managed to keep it up for about 50-70% of my meals. I also started training a lot harder, joined the gym again and did 2 hours of roller derby & intense fitness 4-5 days a week. I started to get stronger, and went from 166 pounds in Dec 2012, to 154lbs and 36.3% body fat in early May 2013. I happened upon Whole 30 and suggested it to my girlfriend, who had been sharing meals with me but had not had the significant change in attitude towards food that I had had. I knew after starting paleo I didn't want to go back. I thought that if we both did Whole30, it might change her attitude and give her the shift that I had had. I didn't expect it to be hard (except the dairy), since I thought I had been paleo for 5 months. Boy was I wrong- even eating mostly paleo previously, I had a bit of a panic on the first couple days- what can I eat? I had to start really eating meat for the first time, and no dairy! The Whole9 vegetarian introduction to meat really helped, and I started with eggs, lots of bacon, shrimp, and meatballs. And I'm happy to say that Whole30 has also had the effect I had hoped on my girlfriend, who (after falling off the bandwagon halfway through) has made a huge mental shift and is now committed to living paleo even after Whole30. We're talking about opening up the first paleo restaurant in Johannesburg. At the beginning I had several guilty dreams in the first week where I would eat a cupcake and then realize I had just broken my Whole 30 and be racked with guilt, only to wake up relieved that I hadn't. And in my 2nd week I had to take a 4 day trip for work into a rural area where I couldn't eat at restaurants. I prepared and froze all my meals for the week and cooked them at the guest house kitchen. Slowly it got easier, meal planning and cooking didn't seem like such a humongous task, and I was eating delicious things! And for the first time in my life I had huge energy and didn't seem to need to eat as much. And the weight dropped off. Sleep I also track my sleep quality on my phone and noticed a jump of about 70% sleep quality in December to 80% through May doing mostly paleo, and during my Whole 30 I averaged 90% sleep quality. Energy I have way more of it now. Even though I only worked out really for the 2nd half of my Whole 30 (after taking about a month break from intense fitness) I am feeling pretty fit again and feel great. Measurements: Weight start: 70kg /154lb ----- end 66kg/145lb---(loss 4kg/ 9lb) Waist start: 101 cm --------------end 95cm ---------(loss 6 cm/ 2.7in) Body fat start: 36.3%-------------end 35.6%--------(loss .7%) Typical Meals: Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled, bacon, coffee with coconut cream, parsnip hasbrowns Lunch: leftovers plus strawberries sometimes Dinner: chicken or pork meatballs with veg side, lemon ghee shrimp with zuchini noodles, cauliflower mash, veg soup with bacon, chicken satay Post workout (around 10:30pm, so this was tough)- 2 hard boiled eggs. Change in attitude I think the best result of Whole30 has been that I am more open to trying new foods (brussels sprouts? Hello!) than I ever have been in my life. New food was previously such a cause of anxiety for me that I seriously considered not studying abroad in Spain because I wouldn't be able to eat my normal foods. After trolling hundreds of paleo recipes and slowly but surely introducing many new vegetables and meats into my life, I have found myself looking forward to new things and truly enjoying my food. I can taste the sweetness in all manner of fresh veggies now. New loves: Parsnip! This is so delicious in a hash brown with cinnamon and nutmeg and ghee Beef: I never though I would enjoy beef... now I crave burgers Zucchini noodles: so easy, quick and delicious Post Whole 30 Introduction Yesterday was day 31 and I had my first pizza & beer in a long while- didn't feel any effects yesterday but today I'm feeling bloated and slept I terribly. I think I'll keep the gluten to a minimal treat. And now for some photos! I'm pretty proud of how far I've come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PamH Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 YAY! Look at you rocking the little clothes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren SA Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Eeep thanks! All my pants have started falling off me, I need new clothes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msssjenna Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 congrats!! you look amazing and it seems like doing the Whole30 was a great idea for you. whats next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren SA Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Thanks Msssjenna!! It has indeed been a great experience, I think going 'whole hog' paleo made me realize how easy it is after you get the hang of it. I plan on staying paleo (with a one day a week 'anything goes' meal)- and re-introducing occasional paleo treats (chocolate, honey, non gluten breads etc), adding some cheese back in (I'm really hoping I don't have any bad reactions to cheese!), and I'm going to add in some alchohol as well (wine mostly). I might consider a few other primal additions like occasional rice if I don't react badly to it, as it's good to have some extra starches for all the roller derby I do. But I want no part of pasta anymore! I've only eaten pasta maybe 4 times in the last 6 months, and the last time I had macaroni and cheese 2 months ago (my previous ultimate favourite meal), I felt sick literally 15 minutes after finishing a bowl, and had to go lie down nauseous. It felt awful! And generally I don't really miss butter, flour, milk, or sugar. But I am really considering opening up a restaurant with my partner, who is a chef, to introduce delicious paleo foods to the general public. South Africa doesn't really have a lot of awareness around the paleo diet and I want to change that! How about yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PamH Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Open the restaurant!!!!! If the food is good, people will come... Paleo or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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