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Starting October 14th - anyone want to join me?


primalamy

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Hi everyone!  Hope all are hanging in there well on the plan.  I am doing pretty good, some changes lately (not all good), energy is better by a smidgen I notice, I am a little more positive overall, cravings still pretty well gone.  The main thing I notice is my stomach feels larger and more bloated and I've had a few bouts of diarrhea the last day or two.  I read this is normal but still not fun.  I take comfort in that the plan is working, one way or another.

 

I made this Cabbage Sausage Delight from www.wholefamilystrong.com, dish last night that was good, even the family tolerated it pretty well.  

 

Big success yesterday, it was our monthly potluck at church yesterday.  Which of course you know equals recipe for disaster.  I managed to sit and visit with people while they ate all that potluck food and I waited to eat my healthy meal until we were on our way home.  I was not hungry, and I enjoyed visiting with everyone without me stuffing myself!  Normally by the end of church service I am really hungry and I am READY to get home and eat ASAP.  Yesterday was soooo different and I felt calm, in control, and honestly not hungry even with people eating all around me after church.  This Whole30 MUST be working, the proof for me is in my day yesterday for sure.  There was even an upsetting situation that had me riled up emotionally and I still didn't feel like eating to drown it out.  I call that a success!

 

This week is going to be a challenge, we are hunting Tuesday-Sunday this week (so you won't hear much from me after Tuesday until next week).  Anyway, we always have beans, stews, french dip sandwiches, etc.  I tried to "healthy it up" as much as I could for my sake but had to leave the traditional menu alone for the guy's sake.lol  So I am going prepared with my own eats.  I am going to make a few things like paleo deviled eggs, mini meatballs in paleo BBQ sauce, take extra time to chop and slice veggies in a fun shape or way so I will have appetizing foods I can look forward to so I won't feel deprived not having the normal hearty foods of elk camp.  I also need some packable meals for the hiking portions of the hunting process as well.  I am thinking veggies, fruits, leftover steaks, nuts and hard boiled eggs will be my go to packables.

 

I didn't hunt during buck season this year because my joints hurt so badly, I couldn't imagine hiking and hunting. :(  So I didn't buy my tag and just stayed in camp. :(  This time just a couple weeks later, thanks to Whole30, I feel like I could do a little hiking.  My joints still feel stiff, but they don't hurt near as bad and I think the hiking might limber them up a little.  I can hope, otherwise I will be sitting on stand more which bores me to tears....but at least I can still hunt.  My husband is really excited we get to hunt together again after 10+ year break for me to stay in camp and care for the little ones etc.

 

My husband is so supportive, and proud of me for doing this.  I feel bad I keep having to make allowances for myself why I can't have this meal or that.  I am trying not to be a pain but he has been patient and understanding. :)  The kids have been great too, they are willing to try anything new and are supportive so far.  Day 8 so far is good, especially beings it is a Monday.  I hope this week will fly by with being gone and so busy.  This first week went by pretty slowly for me. ;)

 

I enjoy all your posts about your journey through this too!  I look forward to seeing how we all are able to continue and the payoffs for everyone. 

 

Congrats on your victory at the Potluck - that was awesome!  

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Looks like we have had some successes on several fronts - coping with work and socialising. We rock!

 

I have been to see a physio for a massage for my sore hip. I did hope it would enable me to sleep better tonight but my left buttock feels so bruised it hurts to sit down. Off to bed soon - it's 9.30pm here. 

 

Meal 1 - soup with poached eggs served on baby spinach

 

Meal 2 - cold pulled pork, large serving of coleslaw (stir fry mix and HM mayo) and an avocado; apple slices with hazelnut butter (way too nice so won't have that again for a while)

 

Meal 3 - chicken thighs, leeks and tomatoes cooked in slow cooker. Didn't add any fat as I served all of the juice which was quite fatty. 

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I made a pumpkin "soup" that should be illegal on Whole30 but is completely compliant...even for AIP.  I will share how I made it but without measurements because I am one of those people who just throw ingredients together.  I roasted a pumpkin last night since we have a bunch of pie pumpkins sitting around and I just throw it in meals. 

Here is the soup that I made:

Half a small pie pumpkin

3-4 tbsp coconut cream

nutmeg (I just shaved some into the pot)

1 c homemade beef broth

Warm it up.  Blend it.  I just used an immersion blender.  It was super thick.  AMAZING.  My kids loved it and so did I.  It seems like quite a treat.

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Thanks for all the recipes! I'm definitely going to try that sausage cabbage recipe. I'm currently starting day 6 and I woke up feeling less groggy today. Yesterday was pretty bad. I woke up in a fog and cranky and had to endure fatigue for my 12 hr long day. I also forgot to pack one of my lunch snacks and ended up having cravings after dinner because I didn't eat enough throughout the day. Today I have more time; so I will be able to pack an extra large lunch (following the template of course).

This week overall has been difficult due to my hectic school schedule. This week I have 3 exams and a major project (and the usual busywork my professors throw at me); so I'm challenged not to use food to cope with my stress. So far I'm doing alright, but I clearly see how my body signals are trying to work against me. It's actually quite amazing to see how I've trained my body to deal with stress.

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Sounding good so far Rocko. I was a part-time student for 4 years whilst working full time and gained 45lbs in that time. Studying without the crutch of coffee and biscuits is difficult! Now I have my BA (Hons) History I am doing Whole30 and learning a load of new stuff - so still studying, but healthily this time ;)

 

Good luck with the rest of your journey - and I must check out that cabbage recipe!

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Happy Day 9!

 

This week overall has been difficult due to my hectic school schedule. This week I have 3 exams and a major project (and the usual busywork my professors throw at me); so I'm challenged not to use food to cope with my stress. So far I'm doing alright, but I clearly see how my body signals are trying to work against me. It's actually quite amazing to see how I've trained my body to deal with stress.

I'm a student, too, and in the past have used candy to get me through those stressful times.  I would mindlessly eat while studying, which was not healthy!  I haven't had a big exam since starting this Whole 30, but have 2 coming up in 2 weeks, so we'll see how I do without the sweets.  Hopefully, I'll be satisfied with my tea. 

 

Yesterday's meals:

1 - scotch egg, braised cabbage, carrots, turnips, coffee with coconut milk

2- tuna salad with mayo, celery, apples, walnuts

3- scotch egg, krispy kale, apple

4- sauteed chicken dipped in sunshine sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, baked sweet potato

 

I typically only eat 3 meals, but was truly hungry at 4pm and had an appointment at 5 and wasn't sure what time I'd be home.

 

Tonight I'm making chicken stir fry with broccoli, bok choy, snow peas, carrots, peppers, onions.  

 

I made about 4 pounds of chicken yesterday.  Any leftovers after tonight's dinner will be chopped into strips and frozen in snack size ziploc bags.  Then I take out what I need during the week.  I'll make a single serving of chicken salad or eat it on top of a salad or eat it plain in a pinch.

 

Have a great day.

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I made a pumpkin "soup" that should be illegal on Whole30 but is completely compliant...even for AIP.  I will share how I made it but without measurements because I am one of those people who just throw ingredients together.  I roasted a pumpkin last night since we have a bunch of pie pumpkins sitting around and I just throw it in meals. 

Here is the soup that I made:

Half a small pie pumpkin

3-4 tbsp coconut cream

nutmeg (I just shaved some into the pot)

1 c homemade beef broth

Warm it up.  Blend it.  I just used an immersion blender.  It was super thick.  AMAZING.  My kids loved it and so did I.  It seems like quite a treat.

I think I'm gonna try this!  thanks

 

Congrats on your victory at the Potluck - that was awesome!  

agree!!!

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I have to share this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

44 days ago it was a struggle to get my trousers fastened. You know? Breathe in, pull in abs and stretch the band as far as you can to hook the button into the buttonhole? Been there? It's been my life for the past few years. 

 

*drum roll* I have just pulled my trousers down without unfastening them *drum roll and cymbals*

 

I am pear shaped with 70lbs to lose so it's a real big deal getting an unfastened waistband past my beach ball of a bottom. 

 

Dances off into the distance singing a happy song.....................

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*drum roll* I have just pulled my trousers down without unfastening them *drum roll and cymbals*

 

 

Sharyn - Fantastic news.  I'm sure that felt amazing!  Keep up the good work.

 

 

Today is going pretty well.  Feel a bit better than yesterday, despite not much sleep.  I had an almost great run yesterday, I felt super strong in the beginning, hit the wall for the last mile, but enjoying that my runs are starting to feel better.

 

Have a great day, everyone!

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That's great, Sharyn!

 

I'm heading down to North Carolina, land of non-compliant BBQ, for the next few days. My flight gets in around 7:30 and I'm going to try to make it to the whole foods before they close at 9:00 so I can stock up on compliant food. My hotel doesn't have refrigerators in the rooms so I need non-perishable ideas. I'm bringing canned sardines, tuna, and salmon with me. I figure I'll pick up some tomatoes, maybe an avocado or two (I don't really like them, but they're convenient) and some fruit. Any other suggestions for things that don't need to be refrigerated?

 

They're holding this training in an event center that is stocked to the brim with crappy food - candy, chips, crackers, bagels, "yogurt" (you know, the kind that only marginally resembles actual yogurt), fruit, microwaveable breakfast biscuits, etc. It always amazes me when we go there - how is this stuff supposed to help people focus on their training throughout the day? Luckily I've figured out where there are a couple restaurants nearby that I should be able to piece a meal together at.

 

Ate shortribs and salad for every meal yesterday - this trip was a surprise so instead of cooking I had to eat everything in my fridge that was going to go bad. Today I had a 3-egg scramble cooked in ghee with onions, mushrooms and peppers, plus a couple slices of fresh tomato for my first meal. Got a salad for lunch and I'm just not feeling it, but trying to make sure I eat enough of it so that I'm not hungry at 5:00...

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Any other suggestions for things that don't need to be refrigerated?

 

Do you have a cooler you can take with you?  I'm sure the hotel has ice.  You could boil some eggs before you go, take some compliant mayo, cook some of your favorite protein?

 

I'd make guacamole with your avocados and stock up on raw veggies to dip in it....carrots, celery, jicama, peppers.

 

Take (or buy) some compliant salad dressing (Whole Foods sells Tessamae's which has a few compliant flavors).  Buy some salad greens.

 

Nuts!

 

Apples.

 

Almond Butter.  They sell small packages at Whole Foods (just watch out for the sweetened ones).

 

good luck!

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Wonderful to hear, Sharyn.

 

I am fitting in clothes that I wore in the time immediately after my wedding eight years ago.  Pre-fertility treatment, pre- lots of stress eating, pre- five and six-year olders .....  It feels great.

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Sharyn,

Big congrats to you!  That is awesome.  Wish I was having the same results weight loss, size, wise.  

 

Tracy,

Congrats to you as well on your clothes fitting so well.

 

Snowflower,

Great ideas!

 

CG,

I totally second what Snowflower said!

 

Day nine in the bag.  Just eating dinner, then off to study.

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Having some trouble today.  I have lost the motivation to eat actual meals and have been falling into the snacking habit - I made balls out of dates/almonds/coconut butter.  Really delicious, but not whole30 compliant.  I'm just tired of cooking and tired of having my husband complain that I am cooking all the time, and I'm tired of what is in my freezer.

 

That's it.  My rant of the day.  Today is 38.  Haven't cheated for real.  Now will go find some protein and something green to eat.

 

My meals have been poor today because I went straight from my accidental triple shift to bringing each of my kids on separate days to a four-hour-long research study on adhd where I didn't have time to prepare food for myself so I sat there hungry.  So I really haven't had a decent meal probably since last week Friday.

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Sharyn, that's wonderful!

 

So, I did something I shouldn't have done yesterday....checked in with my scale.  Was very discouraged to see that I had not lost ANY weight at all. But three people approached me at work yesterday, telling me it looks like I lost weight. How can this be? (Wasn't exercise.)

 

I actually was sort of peeved that one of my coworkers commented that "your stomach is protruding less." On the one hand, I'm glad if this is so--I have bad PCOS and am very apple-shaped--and am happy for positive comments in general. But on the other hand, I found that unsolicited comment from a coworker, even if also female, about the specific contours of my body to feel really inappropriate, even though I'm sure the person meant well. How do you respond to a comment like that if it annoys you, and you don't want to encourage it?

 

Otherwise....I had a major revelation: Eating this way, I am not hungry all the time!  Seriously, before I could not go more than one or two hours without feeling physically really hungry. Since starting the Whole30, I have been able to go three to four hours either without eating something, or eating just a little in between. I'm sure I won't ever be one of those people who forgets to eat a meal, but it is just amazing to me, this feeling of not being constantly hungry. This, alone, would be reason enough to continue eating this way, especially considering that I had gestational diabetes, and am currently prediabetic. I am really hoping that the Whole30 will help me reverse that, or at least stave it off as long as possible (I have a strong genetic predisposition toward diabetes, plus two other endocrine disorders that increase my risk).

 

Also, I have very bad sinuses and was taking Aleve-D at least once daily, sometimes twice daily, to cope with excruciating sinus headaches. Incredibly, over the course of the past week, I have only had to take it twice, in total, over the past eight days.

 

I have been really struggling with getting enough sleep! Late night is the only quiet time I have to myself, between work and my kids.

 

I haven't told anyone (outside of this forum) I'm doing the Whole30. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't felt like talking about it (though my husband knows I did a grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free detox earlier in the month, so he's just used to me avoiding those things by now)...

 

Finally, OMG, how did I choose to start my Whole30 on a week in which I had to bake brownies for my son's school, attend a long birthday party full of nothing but pasta and cake, and sit with someone to wait for half an hour in a bakery cafe? Can't believe I made it through!

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Day 7 and doing well. I'm getting a little bored of eating the same foods over and over again (tends to happen during exam weeks), but this weekend I will actually have time to cook and I'm planning on making some chili.

 

Aventurine- I had the same realization about hunger yesterday. I ate breakfast at 7:30am and was not hungry before my usual 12:30 lunchtime. Before doing this, I would feel ravenously hungry by 9:30. So, that was nice to think about yesterday.

 

Yesterday I ate...

B: 3 fried eggs with cauliflower/broccoli/beet/onion stir fry with coconut aminos and avacado

L: Large salad with assorted veggies and chicken thighs with lemon juice and olive oil dressing, one sweet potato

D: Same as breakfast

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I actually was sort of peeved that one of my coworkers commented that "your stomach is protruding less." 

Some people suck!  So sorry about this comment.  We can't control other people.  My suggestion.....learn from it and when complimenting others on body changes be mindful of how you do it.  I stick with things like "you look beautiful" or "those pants look amazing on you" or something along those lines rather than pointing out that there is some change that needs to be recognized.  I feel uncomfortable when people comment on my changing body shape even when it's "positive".  One exception....my 10 year old said recently "your arms are ripped, Mom".  I loved that!

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Otherwise....I had a major revelation: Eating this way, I am not hungry all the time!  Seriously, before I could not go more than one or two hours without feeling physically really hungry. Since starting the Whole30, I have been able to go three to four hours either without eating something, or eating just a little in between. I'm sure I won't ever be one of those people who forgets to eat a meal, but it is just amazing to me, this feeling of not being constantly hungry. This, alone, would be reason enough to continue eating this way, especially considering that I had gestational diabetes, and am currently prediabetic. I am really hoping that the Whole30 will help me reverse that, or at least stave it off as long as possible (I have a strong genetic predisposition toward diabetes, plus two other endocrine disorders that increase my risk).

This is my favorite side effect of a Whole30!  I used to get headaches and stomach aches if I went more than 3 hours without food.  Now I can go 7 hours!!  I don't intentionally go 7, but I have and didn't have any negative effects.

 

I made Well Fed's best stir fry sauce ever with chicken, broccoli, snow peas, peppers, bok choy, carrots, and celery.  I made quinoa for my kids and bf to eat underneath, but I was perfectly content with the stir fry.

 

Meal 1 today was a scotch egg, brussels sprouts, coffee with coconut milk.

Meal 2 will be chocolate chili (I'm going to try it with a dollop of mayo today -- I saw that idea on another thread), raw carrots and peppers.

Meal 3 will be out with bf.  The plan is to go to a sushi place.  I'll order hamachi sashimi with wasabi (and bring some coconut aminos from home), plain avocado and a green salad (I'll bring dressing from home).

 

Have a great day!

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Sharyn, that's wonderful!

 

So, I did something I shouldn't have done yesterday....checked in with my scale.  Was very discouraged to see that I had not lost ANY weight at all. But three people approached me at work yesterday, telling me it looks like I lost weight. How can this be? (Wasn't exercise.)

 

I actually was sort of peeved that one of my coworkers commented that "your stomach is protruding less." On the one hand, I'm glad if this is so--I have bad PCOS and am very apple-shaped--and am happy for positive comments in general. But on the other hand, I found that unsolicited comment from a coworker, even if also female, about the specific contours of my body to feel really inappropriate, even though I'm sure the person meant well. How do you respond to a comment like that if it annoys you, and you don't want to encourage it?

 

Otherwise....I had a major revelation: Eating this way, I am not hungry all the time!  Seriously, before I could not go more than one or two hours without feeling physically really hungry. Since starting the Whole30, I have been able to go three to four hours either without eating something, or eating just a little in between. I'm sure I won't ever be one of those people who forgets to eat a meal, but it is just amazing to me, this feeling of not being constantly hungry. This, alone, would be reason enough to continue eating this way, especially considering that I had gestational diabetes, and am currently prediabetic. I am really hoping that the Whole30 will help me reverse that, or at least stave it off as long as possible (I have a strong genetic predisposition toward diabetes, plus two other endocrine disorders that increase my risk).

 

Also, I have very bad sinuses and was taking Aleve-D at least once daily, sometimes twice daily, to cope with excruciating sinus headaches. Incredibly, over the course of the past week, I have only had to take it twice, in total, over the past eight days.

 

I have been really struggling with getting enough sleep! Late night is the only quiet time I have to myself, between work and my kids.

 

I haven't told anyone (outside of this forum) I'm doing the Whole30. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't felt like talking about it (though my husband knows I did a grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free detox earlier in the month, so he's just used to me avoiding those things by now)...

 

Finally, OMG, how did I choose to start my Whole30 on a week in which I had to bake brownies for my son's school, attend a long birthday party full of nothing but pasta and cake, and sit with someone to wait for half an hour in a bakery cafe? Can't believe I made it through!

I have worked at the same large hospital for 24 years.  I know a lot of people there.  No close friends, but many many aquaintences.  When I started being successful at my weight loss I was amazed at some of the things people would say to me.  "you are a whole new person".  No, I'm not.  "You look so much better now".  Really?  I was that ugly before??????  It went on and on.  Most of them are not trying to be total b's.  You just have to learn to say "thank you", and move on. 

 

I am having a crisis of imagination.  I have no ideas on what to cook.  I keep making the same things.  There are a number of things on the list, but still I am feeling boring.  I spent the morning looking through nomnompaleo, civilized caveman, and the clothes make the girl.  Nothing is standing out.  I will probably make the chocolate chili today. 

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Started today off with a better attitude.  Last night for M3 fried up some of my left-over pot roast into beef carnitas, added some steamed asparagus and felt much better.

 

Someone was asking about having to eat breakfast.  I have been working the graveyard shift for 20 years and have given myself the freedom to eat when my body feels like it, and whatever my body feels like - i.e., no stress over time of day and having to eat "breakfast" or "dinner" food.  Of course, this graveyard lifestyle is what exacerbates my fibromyalgia, but the Whole30 food plan seems to be helping for the most part with the aches.  And yes, I have lost a ton of weight over the 40 days I have been on it.

 

Now, anyone who is tempted, please don't comment on whether I weighed myself or not - I understand the suggestion not to step on the scale, but, frankly, we have enough people judging us in our world already, and this forum should need be a place where anyone has to explain themselves or apologize.

 

I did the treadmill for only 30 minutes today but I have my group exercise class this evening, from a weight loss group that I signed up for before I discovered Whole30.  The funny thing is, I think that group would have been completely unsuccessful for me if I had not discovered Whole30!  Lucky me!

 

Breakfast at noon today - sweet potato hash with some pot roast, I think.

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