Hi, I'm Amy and am on Day 5

[actionwoman]

My friend got me to join her (she is on her second Whole 30) - I don't know what I've gotten myself into!  

So far I'm not hungry, but I feel cranky and feel like eating is totally joyless. My dreams have become really vivid and a couple of them have been food dreams (pasta with butter and herbs and salted caramel ice cream have featured in two). 

 

I don't want to lose more than a couple of lbs, but I'd like my skin to improve and to stop waking every night at 2 or 3am.  So far I'm now waking at 5am, which I guess is an improvement(?).  I forgot that I wasn't supposed to weigh myself until after I did today (found out by reading the forum) but I've already dropped five lbs, which is hopefully just water weight. I don't want to lose too much. 

 

 

[Tom Denham]

Welcome Amy. Here are two resources that are very helpful: http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/5-the-official-whole30®-program/ and 

http://whole9life.com/book/ISWF-Meal-Planning-Template.pdf

[actionwoman]

Many thanks, Tom  - I'm about to go check those out.  

[Jojo]

Hi Amy,

Of all the things you mentioned, the part that stood out was that eating has been joyless.... oh, and the 5 lbs in 5 days! (That's a LOT of weight to lose so quickly!!!  ) 

 

I have found joy from finding really good recipes. When I am not doing a Whole30, I don't plan my meals so thoroughly, but when I am on the plan I search for what sounds like THE BEST recipes. This builds some of the excitement for me as it is shocking just how awesome things can turn out. 

 

Do you have a crockpot? That little sucker also brings some joy to my food as it is so dang easy to cook up fabulous recipes that are ready by the time I come home from work. If you are on Pinterest, I also find a lot of good recipes there. Although, be careful to actually check that they are according to the plan. You may also want to check websites like paleomg.com and nomnompaleo.com. I also love www.theclothesmakethegirl.com or just check the recipe section of the forum. 

 

Maybe recipes aren't the source of "joylessness;" however, I find that eating the same thing or getting in a rut can typically be cured by a new food that both tastes good and makes me proud that I am staying on track. 

 

Hope that helps a little. Hang in there!!!! It may be difficult through certain parts; however, it shouldn't feel like torture!

[Jojo]

PS. I also started to clear up my face and it was a miracle! Clear skin alone will hopefully bring quadruple the amount of happiness. Best of luck!

[actionwoman]

I don't have a slow cooker, but I do have a pressure cooker.  

 

Problem is, I am so used to eating out all the time (living in NYC).  Lucky for me, I found a program called Healthy Out that delivers from local restaurants paleo-friendly meals, so my lunch is covered. I eat out every day for lunch and the price is a bit cheaper than what I'd spend per meal anyway. They modify a restaurant meal to make it paleo-friendly (ie leaving out rice or bread, omitting soy sauce).  Many of the places are ones I've been to already, so they should be good.

 

I really need to cook more - I have the book Well Fed, and I have been browsing the recipes in there. I've made the salmon so far and loved it, but I need to branch out.  Planning is key, and that's what I'm worst at!

[actionwoman]

PS - I'm glad to hear that your skin cleared up.  Mine seems to be really bad right now - it's probably purging or detoxing like the rest of me - sigh. I took a 2-hour nap today and slept like a log. I don't think I've ever slept so deeply - it felt really nice!

[Jojo]

Well Fed's "Best Chicken You'll Ever Eat" is my favorite. Good luck! 

[Physibeth]

I would double check with that service to make sure Paleo Friendly is equivalent to Whole30 compliant. Whole30 is about the strictest form of Paleo out there. 

 

Good luck to you! I find that I've found much more joy in both cooking and eating since I embarked on my Paleo lifestyle. It just takes some time to learn your way around.