Integrating (post-W30) Lori's log

[lori_vt]

Day 31:   (weight pre Whole30 - 125.8, weight after W30 - 121.4 after W30); running 3 miles before b'fast 5-6 mornings/week.  Started free weights again after a few years off due to significant injuries and joint pain [note to self:  take measurements before b'fast tomorrow!]

 

B'fast:  sweet potato & beet hash with 1 slice bacon, 2 whole eggs & 1 egg white; coffee w/coc oil & coc milk

Lunch:  meatloaf, cauliflower pilaf, huge salad, 2" square of fresh coconut

Dinner: pork cubes in pomegranate reduction, coconut-almond green beans, spicy sweet potato wedges

 

take measurements on Wednesday morning.  Tomorrow will be stressful (getting up at 5, walk the dog, feed cat and chickens, make b'fast, get on the road by 6:45, 2 hour drive, meet with victim's advocate and parole board, state my concerns about the possible early release of the guy that burglarized my house 3 times; 2 hour drive home, babysit my granddaughter from noon until 8 pm.)  Whew.  I can get through this.  I don't have to see him or his family - just me, victim's advocate and parole board. 

[lori_vt]

Up at 5:15 today before alarm - so anxious about the parole board meeting.  Walked the dog, had breakfast, hit the road at 6:45 for the 2 hour drive to the correctional center.  The Victim's Advocate met me at the front door, and said she had just found out that he (the accused) is getting a Conditional Release at the end of the month.  Bah.  Spent about 25 minutes telling the 4-member parole board the story of the 3 burglaries, they asked a lot of questions - it was much less stressful than the restitution hearing.  I'm glad I was prepared.  Got home at 11:45, and my daughter dropped off my granddaughter at noon.  L-o-n-g day.  And stressful - I'm glad this was post W30, since I slid into some slippery eating.  Hoping I sleep well tonight.

 

B'fast - 2 small blueberry sausage patties, 1/2 cup of sweet potato/beet hash with 2 eggs and 1 egg white, 1 LARGE decaf with coconut oil and coconut milk

Early lunch(ish) - 1 can tuna in oil with jalapenos, 3 carrots, 2 celery, 1/3 cucumber, 1/2 red pepper

Mid-afternoon lunch(ish) - Beef and spinach muffin, coconut almond green beans, banana, almond butter (too much...)

Dinner - small meatloaf slice, baked sweet potato fries

[lori_vt]

Didn't sleep very well last night - love my Sleep App that gives me a record of my sleep time, apparently I was at 64% and slept 8:25.  Didn't want to get up this morning; lay in bed for 15 minutes before I finally got up - brr my room is so cold now that the winter temps have arrived.  I think it was probably 58 in my room.  Once I'm up, it's fine, but geez, the few moments from pulling back the covers to getting on my running stuff is rough!  Got out the door at 7:00 for our morning jog - I think it was about 26 degrees.  Went about 3 miles; the first 2 were okay, then I was just tired.  Pushed through to get home, make breakfast and get on with morning routine. 

 

*  I'm having a little bit of an issue with sugar cravings this afternoon.  I don't think I would feel very good afterwards, and not even sure it would taste good.  Figured I'd acknowledge it and hopefully it will pass.  No one is more surprised than ME that I have so little interest in returning to my former way of eating; not that it was bad.  Quite the contrary - I probably ate healthier than most people I know.  I don't have an issue with weight or exercise.  All in all, I was in a pretty good place.  Except chronic inflammation - 2 knee surgeries, chronic low back pain, occasional headaches (migraines), difficulty sleeping, post-menopausal.  And now I feel so much better!  Cleaner.  Clearer.  And the not-so-distance past (33 days ago) didn't necessarily feel bad, but this feels so nice.  I don't want to pollute my body.  I told Matt (oldest son) that I'm not buying soda anymore (diet coke or diet dr pepper).  Seltzer is just fine for the bubbly.  Guess I'll try and update this later to see how the rest of the day felt.

 

Food today:

Reintroducing dairy day:

B'fast - 2 eggs and 1 egg white fried over easy with 1 slice bacon on top of green chili/sweet potato hash;  2 cups of coffee with light cream (first reaction - not as good as coffee with coconut oil and coconut milk.  Wait, did I just say that???  )

Lunch - pork nuggets with pomegranate reduction, sauerkraut, coconut almond beans, 1/2 cup of whole milk yogurt and spinach salad

Dinner - Massaman beef curry, squash/kale gratin (this tasted deliciously sweet!), single serving size of ice cream.  Again, not as delicious as it used to be.  Sure makes it a lot easier to turn it down!

 

Brought Layla (dog) to the chiropractor tonight - she was much more vocal, and it seemed that the hip adjustment bothered her more.  She's home and sleeping on her bed now, after she knocked the cat off!  Going to bed early tonight.  Perhaps my morning sluggish run was due to only 7.5 hours of sleep last night.  Once I started getting 8.5 hours, it made such a difference!  I've known for the last 10 years or so that I NEED 8 hours of sleep, but often get 7.5 or 7.75. 

 

*note to self - no dairy for 48 hours to evaluate today.  and no other changes!! 

[lori_vt]

Slept a little better last night - went to bed at 9:45, got up at 6:30.  Dang cold in my room - 55 degrees.  Nice for sleeping but not nice for getting out of bed.  Felt like morning run was in slow motion, took over 2 miles for my hands to warm up.  I think I'm going to plan for next W30 to start on January 1st - I hopefully will have gotten ISWF by then.  And maybe just maybe it will be a W60 or W90.  Tentative meals for today:

 

B'fast - 2 eggs, 1 egg white over-easy with 1 blueberry sausage patty on green chili/sweet potato hash, coffee w/coconut oil & coconut milk (YUMMM)

Lunch - chicken soup w/tons of veggies, cauliflower pilaf, meat & spinach muffin, spinach salad, 2" square of fresh coconut

Dinner - shredded beef, brussel sprouts, spicy baked plantains, maybe coconut almond green beans

[lori_vt]

I was proud of myself for doing some weights last night before dinner and after walking the dog.  I have been trying to find the time to squeeze weight-training back into my overly busy schedule for the past year or more, but between working full-time, taking care of a dog, cat and chickens, and a full day babysitting my granddaughter, I just don't have the time or energy.  It's generally evenings that work best, but I'm usually so hungry and therefore I eat, and then don't want to work out after eating or as it gets closer to bedtime.  I got out of work early yesterday, went home and walked Layla, fed her, and went right into my exercise room.  I always love it, and love the way my body responds to regular weight training - I feel fortunate for awesome genetics in this regard.  I would love to try cross-fit, but my p/t said I am nowhere near strong enough for it.  I guess 5 years of chronic low back pain and 2 knee surgeries have sidelined me long enough that I really have no conditioning whatsoever.  I'm aiming for 3 regular weight lifting days per week with regularity!  (I also can't wait for the DOMS to set in - I just love that feeling )

 

Today was cold and rainy (34 degrees, rainy and windy) and I was feeling too sluggish to run before breakfast.  I think my morning runs are better when I take 2 days off each week.  Looking forward to two decent runs this weekend.  I always take Layla, but I'd kind of like to go on a run without her.  I'm sure my form is better when I'm not running with a dog.

 

Today's food:

B'fast - 2 slices of bacon with 2 eggs and 1 egg white, and about 1-1/2 cups of chopped veggies.  2 cups of decaf with coconut oil & milk.

Lunch - Chicken soup loaded with veggies, pulled beef, sauerkraut, huge spinach salad, 2" square of fresh coconut

Dinner - grass-fed local beef burger, japanese sweet potato fries, brussel sprouts.

 

Feel good, hopefully rested enough for a good run tomorrow morning.  Gotta get to bed before 10! 

[amberino21]

well done for getting back in to weights - make sure you're including pre/postWO to help you recover. it might help the doms, I wouldn't know - I never get them! (my husband hates me, he gets no sympathy after leg day.. )

[lori_vt]

Thanks Amber!  It's funny that he hates you for not getting doms - I love getting it; makes me feel like I really killed it with the weights.  If I don't get it, I feel like I cheated myself.  Even when I used to be conditioned.  I need to think about including pre/post WO food.  Since I keep comparing my whimpy exercise now to what my "REAL" exercise used to be, I think I'm minimizing my need for nutrition.  I'm going to boil up some eggs and sweet potato wedges.  Anything else you'd recommend?  [i'm cooking up some Roasted Kabocha Squash Nom-Nom Paleo-style!  I bet that would be good for post WO]

[amberino21]

he only hates me because I don't give him sympathy when he can't walk without looking like he's riding a horse. or sit down properly. or he hates me when I poke whatever we trained the day before and ask if it hurts hehe. we used to joke that I didn't train hard enough, then I got sick of the joke and just accept that i'm weird and recover quickly. even during training, I can kill myself during a set, finish, and be ready to go almost straight away. I walk out thinking I could go back and do it all again! we've trained with different people, different styles of training and nothing does anything!

 

sweet potato wedges would be great for postWO - just bake them without fat. I sprinkle spices on them and they roast up beautifully. Eggs are great for preWO, but i'd stick to chicken breast or turkey postWO as you don't want the fat.

[lori_vt]

Busy day - finally sitting down to catch my breath.  Layla woke me up by barking loudly and solidly from 6am til 6:30 - I tried to doze til 7, but it was more just resting.  Went for 3 mile pre-breakfast run - felt really good, but it was cold (20's).  Did a couple of errands and met Amy at the Scuffer for lunch.  I indulged in a little off-roading, and my stomach wasn't happy about 2 hours later, but it didn't last for too long.  Visited my mom, took her shopping, came home, walked the dog, took care of the chickens in the middle of a snow squall.  Did my 2nd day of weights and bumped the weight up a bit since I wasn't sore after Thursday.  Got 3 sets of 12 reps done for biceps, chest, triceps, back and shoulders, and threw in 2 sets of burpees for good measure.  Set up food for breakfast tomorrow (Machacado Eggs).  Also pulled some pasta madre out of the freezer to make the italian bread for Thursday (Thanksgiving) brunch.  All the kids want me to make the stuffed french toast that I made last year.  Just because I'm making it for them doesn't mean I have to eat it.  It was so strange to make bread dough; it's been many months.  I'm not sure the PM will still be active after being in the freezer - I added a little baking yeast to help it along.  Made Belly Dance Beet Salad (so delicious!), and spicy roast chicken breast.  Tomorrow I'll cook up some things for the [short] week.  I printed out NomNom Paleo's instructions for dry brining the turkey, and will make a couple batches of Well Fed Cauliflower Pilaf instead of stuffing.  I'm going to splurge and make a paleo pumpkin pie (I think it's from Mark's Daily Apple) - hope it turns out okay and everyone enjoys it.  I'm sure I will

Todays food:

B'fast:  2 sausage patties, 2 eggs on a bed of roasted kabocha squash and sauteed baby spinach, 2  cups decaf w/coconut milk & coconut oil

Lunch:  burger with jalapenos and pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo on the side, sweet potato fries

Dinner: roast chicken breast, roast asparagus, roasted kabocha squash, 1 homebrew (while making dinner)

[lori_vt]

It was so-o cold today - I think the high was 20 degrees, but with wind gusts of 40-50, it felt like zero or below.  Supposed to be 10 degrees tonight, and high of 22 tomorrow.  No running today - instead I rode spin bike for an hour.  Layla didn't even want to go for a walk, and the chickens never left the coop.  We got a dusting of snow last night, and it's the first snow that the new chickens have seen.  The old girls were out in it no problem.  Went out for a couple of errands, came home and sold the old pair of snow tires, then spent most of the day cooking up a bunch of things.  I made a couple of things for Danielle since she didn't want the carrots, beets, kale or radishes from the CSA this week.  I roasted radishes (mmm, they're so good), made the 2 loaves of italian bread for the kids for Thanksgiving brunch (stuffed french toast), made pomegranate pork in the crock pot, beet/carrot burgers, steamed broccoli - geez I thought there was more.  Oh well.  I reverted back to one previous habit today - watching football, drinking a beer, and cooking.   Instead of making an actual lunch, I had one of the beet/carrot burgers to test them along with something else, and I can't remember now what it was, but it wasn't enough for lunch.  Then I had some yogurt and a banana with raw almond butter.  Had a nice dinner after the hour on the spin bike.  Overall, here's today:

B'fast:  Machacado eggs with avocado relish

Lunch:  Beet & carrot burger, banana with almond butter, yogurt, homebrew

Dinner: Meatloaf, coconut almond beans, 2 slices roasted kabocha

 

Tomorrow will be more regular with food, since I'll be at work.  Short day since the University and Burlington Electric will be testing in the afternoon, so I'm going to Williston for a couple errands, and hopefully will get my snow tires mounted.

[lori_vt]

I never got my update posted yesterday.  I didn't bring my coconut milk and coconut oil to work for coffee, instead I used light cream.  I am still surprised that this doesn't appeal to me very much since doing the W30.  At the end of the day, I had the thought that integrating some W30 into my regular diet, and dropping some of my "usual" things is helping me move into a relaxed way of eating.  I still want to do the W30/W60 again and be totally compliant, but I'm going to wait until January - my library ordered ISWF for me, so I want to read that first.  I'm trying to get through Robb Wolf's book, but it's so full of tongue-in-cheek humor that it's hard for me to stay focused. 

 

I got home a little early yesterday, since UVM and the City of Burlington were doing testing in the building.  Went to Williston for chicken feed, oyster shells, bird seed, and other errands.  I had hoped to swing by the guy from Craigslist's house in St. George to pick up the weight bench (YAY!!!), but my snow tires were still in my trunk so I didn't have room.  Came home, walked the dog, and then I did weights.  I didn't get sore at all from last Thursday or Saturday.  This morning I can feel a little soreness in my bi's and chest.  Having a bench will allow a lot more variety, since right now I'm just lying down on my treadmill.  Cold and uncomfortable and restrictive movements.  I slipped in some push-ups and air squats.  Whew - I can run, but doing some of these "plyometric" type exercises sure gets me winded. 

 

Today I'm home with Alessandra.  Went to get snow tires mounted already.  Later we'll go visit my mom, and stop at UVM to pick up my CSA and even pick up a dehumidifier from a lady on Freecycle.  Might be able to take the dog for a walk later, but Alessandra doesn't have any snowpants and it's barely 30 degrees.  I'll have to play that by ear. 

 

Here's yesterday's food, and today's so far...

 

B'fast:  Machacado eggs with avocado relish, 2  cups decaf w/coconut milk & coconut oil

Lunch:  meatloaf, pumpkin coconut soup, Belly Dance Beet Salad, spinach salad, broccoli

Dinner: roast chicken breast, roasted radishes (too salty), roast asparagus, roasted kabocha squash and 2 dates

 

B'fast:  2 sausage patties, 3 eggs and 1 egg white with 1-1/2 cups of veggies (shared with the baby), 2 cups decaf w/coconut milk/oil

Lunch:  went to visit my mom and forgot to pack my lunch (but I did remember the baby's food), so I had a salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and 3 slices of cheddar cheese and 2 slices of deli turkey breast (yuk). 

Dinner: crockpot pomegranate pork, kale/squash gratin, broccoli, 1 Tbs coconut butter (yummmmm)

 

So tired - going to bed soon.  We're getting the first snow of the season, expecting 1-4 inches tonight, then temps rising to low 30's, maybe 40 tomorrow, then plunging to 5 degrees Wednesday night.  Glad I don't have far to travel for Thanksgiving.

[lori_vt]

Rainy and cold morning, didn't run w/Layla; instead we did a rather short loop.  So lazy at work today - only 3 people were there.  I surfed the net for things I want to get but don't think I can get locally (pump for a winter bird bath, connector for car antenna, found a paleo recipe for turkey gravy for our big feast on Saturday, found some more home crossfit workouts).  Then I left early.  Brought fresh water to the chickens in the heated waterer, added a bunch of hay, since it's supposed to go into the single digits in the next couple days, and raked up some leaves and tossed them in the run.  The girls were so happy to have something new to scratch and peck at!  Took Layla for an evening run, which ended up being short (2 mi) since it was getting dark and I didn't wear any reflective gear.  Got home, fed Layla and Gabi, and headed into my weight room for a modified Xfit workout.  Whew. I'm going to have to have my Jen (p/t) critique my form to be sure I'm not compensating with my back.  And I'm so happy that my body is sore from my workout on the Monday I do so love the soreness.  I didn't do too much since I really don't know about my form, and I don't want to have a relapse with my back.  Plus I'm sore, so I didn't want to do something with bad form.  I may do weights tomorrow evening, depending on how my afternoon goes at mom's.  Friday I will pick up the weight bench in the late afternoon - so psyched.  He's giving me the plastic coated weights (yuk) but he doesn't have a bar.  I may have one in the garage, and definitely a barbell with plastic coated weights is better than none. 

 

Today's food:

B'fast:  1 small sausage patty, 1 slice bacon, 1 cup veggies, 2 eggs + 1 egg white all on a bed of steamed spinach and 2 slices of roasted kabocha, 2  cups decaf w/light cream

Lunch:  Pomegranate pork, pumpkin coconut soup, Belly Dance Beet Salad, spinach salad, roasted radishes

PostWO: meat and spinach muffin

Dinner:  nothing yet

[PamH]

Up at 5:15 today before alarm - so anxious about the parole board meeting.  Walked the dog, had breakfast, hit the road at 6:45 for the 2 hour drive to the correctional center.  The Victim's Advocate met me at the front door, and said she had just found out that he (the accused) is getting a Conditional Release at the end of the month.  Bah.  Spent about 25 minutes telling the 4-member parole board the story of the 3 burglaries, they asked a lot of questions - it was much less stressful than the restitution hearing.  I'm glad I was prepared.  Got home at 11:45, and my daughter dropped off my granddaughter at noon.  L-o-n-g day.  And stressful - I'm glad this was post W30, since I slid into some slippery eating.  Hoping I sleep well tonight.

 

B'fast - 2 small blueberry sausage patties, 1/2 cup of sweet potato/beet hash with 2 eggs and 1 egg white, 1 LARGE decaf with coconut oil and coconut milk

Early lunch(ish) - 1 can tuna in oil with jalapenos, 3 carrots, 2 celery, 1/3 cucumber, 1/2 red pepper

Mid-afternoon lunch(ish) - Beef and spinach muffin, coconut almond green beans, banana, almond butter (too much...)

Dinner - small meatloaf slice, baked sweet potato fries

Sorry about that Parole Board meeting!  But, he isn't the 'accused'… he is the convicted!

 

I used to be a victim's advocate in the Special Assault Unit (WA state), so I applaud you for your follow-through and strength to face this guy.

 

Congratulations on successfully finishing the Whole30.  

 

That pomegranate pork sounds good.  Any specific recipe?  I can make a reduction… maybe save this one for when I decide to eat my coconut rice again.

[lori_vt]

Thanks Pam - I will get the pomegranate reduction for you.  I've made the pork again in the crockpot, but used pork chops instead of the pork loin.  Had to pick out a bunch of bones but it was still tasty.

 

I never got my update posted for Thanksgiving day.  Nothing super fantastic to report, although I believe that eating dairy definitely causes more gas, and eating grains (stuffed french toast) definitely gave my stomach the knots about 3 hours later.  I honestly can't believe how much better I feel eating the W30 way!  I have no cravings for dessert; the thought occurs to me, but it's not what I want.  I haven't craved any grains not even once since I began my W30 back in Oct.  Sometimes I hear an advertisement for pizza, and it makes my mouth water, but honestly I don't think it would taste half as good as I think it would.   so why would I want to give up all the good feelings from eating clean and Whole Foods if it isn't even very good??? 

 

Yesterday - I ran 2.25 in the morning with Layla - it has been super cold recently, so we didn't go too far.  Came home and had a 3/4 breakfast knowing that I was going to my mom's to make brunch for half of the family.  Got back home around 2ish, and I did a workout even though I was still sore from Monday.  Then I rode the spin bike for 50 minutes while watching football.  At this point, I don't remember all my food, but I know that I had eggs and veggies for breakfast, then I had 1 stuffed french toast and 2 sausage patties with fruit for brunch.  Don't remember what I had for dinner   but it was something that would be ok for W30.

 

Today - got up and walked the dog, then jumped on my treadmill for 40 minutes of jogging/intervals.  Then b'fast followed by preparing turkey and a couple other things for our family feast tomorrow.  Went and picked up the weight bench this evening, came home and set it up (YAY!!), and finished getting things ready for tomorrow.  Made Bora Bora Fireballs for dinner along with leftover sweet potato fries and kale.  Really looking forward to tomorrow and seeing my brother, and my kids (and granddaughter).  I'm psyched that I made the turkey NomNom style, and Cauliflower Pilaf (Well Fed) for "stuffing" and Mark's Daily Apple for pumpkin pie   At least it won't be too difficult for me to eat clean tomorrow

 

B'fast:  1 slice bacon, 2 eggs & 1 egg white on top of green chili/sweet potato hash, 2  cups decaf w/coconut oil/milk

Lunch:  Pomegranate pork, pumpkin coconut soup, salad

Dinner:  Bora Bora Fireballs, a few sweet potato fries, kale

[lori_vt]

How is it possible that a week can pass so quickly, and I simply don't have time to do all the things that need to get done?  I guess I'm doing the ones with the highest priority, but sheesh it's hard to let the other things go.  <sigh>

 

My last week has been quite nice; not doing a W30 right now, but following the eating plan about 80%.  I've had some dairy and a teeny bit of grain (not a fan, but no bad side effects), and I've had some sugar too.  Haven't had any diet soda - no desire for it.  My Polar selters in various flavors are all I need!  I have had occasional alcohol too, and found that red wine makes me sleep poorly and feel lousy the next day.  I've been working some home cross-fit workouts into my routine, and got great feedback from my p/t.  She suggested adding the dyna-disks to my lunges and squats to help improve core stability.  I have always wanted to be able to do wide-grip pull-ups, and have only been able to get a couple successfully, years ago when I was bodybuilding.  This time I'm not as "driven," but still highly motivated, and it's the first exercise in my circuit (3 sets).  Start with back (pull-ups), chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders, squats (or lunges) and core/abs.  Rest 30-60 seconds, repeat.  Try to get 12 reps with perfect form for each exercise.  Lovin it.  Ran 2.5 this morning before breakfast with my dog, and will ride spin bike tonight (did weights last night).  Aiming for 3 workouts a week, with running or spinning 5 days.  It's been a very long time since I've been able to exercise at this level, due to chronic low back pain, and ACL reconstruction in 2008, and meniscus repair and joint debridement in 2012 (following fractured tibia, thanks to my excitable dog).  Physical therapy has been the only thing to help reduce my back pain, and that has been by strengthening my core, hips, glutes and hamstrings and learning to move properly.  All my adaptations from the chronic pain and injuries led to big muscles compensating for small/weak muscles, and I threw my whole body out of whack.  I love my p/t, and she just told me that I graduated - this of course leaves me with very mixed feelings.  She's been a physical therapist AND athletic trainer AND she gives it to me straight (Lori, your knee is shot, you have no articular cartilage and will be a candidate for knee replacement, and you have a crappy back...) and yet she respects my decision to continue to run (I have no pain), and has taught me better techniques to minimize damage (Chi running).

[lori_vt]

Pretty good weekend - got some things done, and didn't get others done, but I did watch Alessandra most of the day on Saturday when Danielle & Michael were at class.  Trying to get the winter bird bath going, but it gets too cold overnight to keep the pump running, so I do have to break down and get some kind of heater.  The chickens are doing okay, but we are getting some snow today, so I need to get the lean-to finished so they don't just hang out in the coop all day afraid of the snow.  And the rooster has been terribly mean to Louise, so she's alone in the garage right now.  That means no nest box for Dominica, should she need to lay an egg.  Hmm.  Don't know what to do about that.  Spent most of the day Sunday cooking and preparing food for the week.  Made an incredible Bacon-Egg Salad with Sweet Potatoes - omg it was amazing, and wicked filling.  Made it again yesterday, but modified it a bit, and split it into 2 breakfasts instead of one.  Yesterday food was off because that breakfast was so filling (very high fat) that I didn't eat much for lunch (large bowl of turkey soup) or dinner (one chicken thigh, three meatball "taste testing", cocoa cauliflower, 2 slices roasted kabocha).  I was really sluggish and tired trying to do my workout, so I modified it, and stopped after 2 sets.  Probably not enough food is my guess. 

 

Heading into cold weather now - ran 3 miles this morning in the blowing and windy snow shower.  Glad it wasn't slippery.  Here's what I have for food today:

B'fast:  Egg Salad with Bacon and Sweet Potato (2 eggs, 1 slice bacon, 1/2 sweet potato, 1 Tbs mayo); 2 cups decaf w/light cream

Lunch:  Chipotle shredded beef, belly dance beet salad, casablanca carrots, tossed salad

Dinner:  not sure yet, but lots to choose from!

[lori_vt]

Okay - when I get a group email at work that says there are "treats in the kitchen," guess who's sugar devil wields it's mighty strength and catapults me down to the kitchen??  Ugh.  I hate that.  So I had way too many mini chocolate truffles yesterday, and it left me feeling like I just can't do this "going rogue" thing without serious (emotional and physical) consequences.  When I was doing W30, I didn't have any cravings or sugar attacks, and I didn't miss any of the other occasional binge foods I used to have (tortilla chips, bread, ice cream, cookies, anything "free" that people brought in to work).  I seem to have no willpower or self-control.  And I probably don't even taste what it is I'm eating, it's more about getting it/them in my mouth fast enough.  Gosh I sound like I have a serious eating disorder but I know that I don't - unless I'm including these things in my diet.  Then I probably meet the criteria for Binge Eating Disorder. 

 

Next week we have 2 holiday parties, and a cookie swap.  Once I get past next week, I think most of the crap food will disappear from my environment.  I am going to make a diligent effort to eat W30 without being strict about the ingredients (like bacon) until after Christmas.  Or maybe New Years - I'd like to have a glass of champagne.  But except for the "occasions," I am going back to W30 meals.  I feel much better having made that decision.  The crap that's available makes me feel like crap when I eat it.  And there is waaay too much good W30 food to waste a stomach ache or berating myself for eating crap.  Eating W30 is always a WIN-WIN! 

[lori_vt]

So I have indisputable proof now that eating junk makes me feel like crap.  If I ever doubted that eating off-plan would make me feel lousy, then this weekend revealed the truth to me, and it wasn't pretty.  I baked up a bunch of cookies for the cookie swap, and to give to some of my favorite people, and I had a few whilst baking.  I also had 2 beers while watching football.  Ugh - at the end of the day I had a headache and felt downright gross.  Perhaps just one or two cookies or just one beer would be okay, but I obviously overdid it.  The toffee was a sugar-lovers fantasy treat, the date-nut balls were okay and the peppakakor was just right.  If I can remember the feeling in the late afternoon/evening - the headache, the cranky stomach - then hopefully I can avoid doing that again.  Of course the simplest solution is to continue W30 and renew at the end of each 30.  Tonight our department is going to a restaurant for our holiday party, and Wednesday the staff is going to lunch for our holiday party.  Other than those two events, I should be able to eat clean and feel better.  At some point, we will have a family holiday gathering, but I don't have to eat any junk there, in fact I usually bring most of the food, and have been introducing the W30 to my family.  Thanksgiving was an awesome hit except for the "paleo pumpkin pie" which was a big disappointment.  I should've just made a regular pumpkin pie, and then I could have chosen whether to have some or not, but replacing it with a paleo-ified version was a poor choice.

 

And I've been reading It Starts With Food - omg I am in love with this book and approach!  I feel like finally there is a "plan" that matches the type of eating that has historically worked best for me.  I am grateful for the science and research behind the publication, so I can share it with my family and not sound like I've gone off the deep end on yet "another diet."  And I don't need a "diet," but it's awkward to say "I'm on a new meal plan," as if I was still in college.  I have said "I'm eating whole food now, no dairy, no sugar, no grain, no beans, no fillers, no alcohol," and that seems to go over pretty well.

 

I made a bunch of Well Fed stuff last night, so I'm prepared to head into this week with "my food."  I hate to wish the holidays away, but I will be relieved when all the "holiday junk" is not so readily available.  And I am making a pledge to not contribute to the junk-food gift-giving in the future - if I give food, it will be whole food and healthy.

[Derek`]

I'm right there with you today.    I had a bad weekend and feel it today.  Here's to a better week. 

[lori_vt]

Okay, now that all the holidays are behind me (thank goodness), I am about to embark on my next official W30.  I have almost finished reading ISWF and I love it.  Right now I am emptying my house of the things that are not allowed on W30.  They may not be so awful, but I will feel better when I can start anew with a fresh, "clean" kitchen.  The wine is now gone, as are the chocolate covered cranberries, so I should be in decent shape.  I have been better at preparing W30 main dishes and sides, and can I just say that I feel 100% fantastic when I eat this way?? so I am seriously looking forward to cleaning up my act.

 

And I bought a season pass for skiing!!  Woohoo!  It's been a long time.  I went skiing last weekend, and I did much better than I expected.  I'm so psyched.  So this weekend might be busy (visiting my brother before he heads back home, maybe skiing on Sunday), but I'm hopeful that I can get some W30 cooking done for the week.  I am totally convinced that this is the best way for me.  No cravings.  NO binges.  No bloating.  And completely satisfied.  Who could ask for anything else?  Even my mom said "I can see why you are satisfied after eating this way, and don't crave any sweets."  I'm hoping to convert her, since she is now on her 2nd auto-immune illness.  Or maybe it's her 3rd.  It's not good at all for my mom.  She has severe Macular Degeneration, terrible cataracts, and has now been dealing with Giant Cell Arteritis.  She had Temporal Arteritis years ago.  She also has Hep A (from traveling in Ecuador).  She was a long-time smoker.  I am hoping that I dodged the bullet by quitting smoking in 1995.  And I've been a lot healthier overall than my mom.  She recently asked me if I would make a double batch of whatever I'm cooking for the week, and she'll pay me for it.   Sounds like an easy way to turn my mom into a W30-er!!  She's 76, and healthier than most 76'ers, however she has a serious sugar demon.  I have to get myself on track, and prepare big enough batches of my meals in order to give her half, and hopefully this will help her ditch the sugar. 

 

I think 2014 is going to be a good year for me   -----> finally <----- after 2 knee surgeries, chronic low back pain, and three burglaries, I'm ready for a good year!