Jaybird913 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Hello! I'm Jessica. 41, a wife and mom of 3 girls. I love to run and love to eat! Looking forward to hitting reset on old habits and foods I tell myself are "okay" My best friend told me about this lifestyle challenge and I'm hoping to find success and support with my fellow travelers on the journey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'm with you! I did a W30 last August and appreciated: feeling wonderful, the significant decrease in hair needing to be cleaned out of the shower, less pain (and some decrease in swelling) in finger joints, even moods, lost inches (okay, maybe half inches!), and, this may seem weird, but my eyes looked really different! They were more open and clear. Now you'd think that after that positive experience, I wouldn't stray so far away, but, no. My goals for the next 30 days include: 1. Enjoying living the challenge; 2. Gaining/feeling (in) control when it comes to food and its role in managing emotions; 3. Reducing the rather "womanly curves" which have showed up the past few months (gosh, move less and eat more questionable food and look what happens!); 4. Taking the time to find a quality doctor so I have a partner in health (wondering about the joints, increasing tingling and numbness....); 5. (Five, can I have five?!) Maintaining my usual activity level while doing the W30 (bike commuting, running, walking solely for pleasure). During my first round, I was (perhaps) way over focused on the food aspect and had (for me) much less activity than is normal. So I guess I really want to live the "Whole9" this time around! There. I said it, so tomorrow I can live it! I always (well, right now "always") begin the day with a compliant meal and lose steam at lunch or between 4-6, so I'm looking forward to the ease of the template. During my first time around, the preparation was like studying for final exams... Months of reading and thinking. Now my home is set up for both success and temptations. There is plenty of food and cooking know-how for compliant meals and the cupboard of conventional dangers (in my case, chocolate). Oh, and Costco's "True Bliss Convections" (dark chocolate covered coconut). I'm pretty sure it is crack for my brain... These may need to be let go! I'm 51, 5'2" and, at last check, 120. I care much more about how I feel (and how my clothes fit) than the number in the scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyce27 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Hi there, I, too, am starting tomorrow, 2/22, although I will probably be compliant today but use tomorrow as my official start date. Maybe I should say my reset day as I started on 1/23, went 8 fantastic days, then succumbed to a super bowl party and never have gotten back on the wagon. I looked through the post that started on 1/23 and realized I would be finishing with my Whole30 if I had stuck with it. There is never going to be a really "good" time to start. There are always parties and birthdays and special events. My workplace always seems to have sweet goodies around. My biggest issue is sugar and slaying that dragon is just plain tough. But how I feel when I eat correctly is just amazing. My sleep improves almost immediately. I am continually puzzled as to why I would pass off feeling so good just for some M&Ms! I am 57 and am not overweight, but I have a couple of little health issues that I am curious would clear up by going squeaky clean for 30 days. Any thoughts on fruit and whether it just prolongs the sugar cravings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 The whole fruit thing was a surprise to me during my first W30. I went into it thinking that fruits were "sort of like vegetables, only a little more fun." But no, indeed; I had to be really thoughtful of my use of fruit, not to use them as "dessert," and to really limit them (no frozen blueberries with coconut cream for me!). This time, I will be even more judicial with my use of fruit. It is a slippery slope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyce27 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Blueberries with coconut cream sounds divine! My go-to for squelching the sugar cravings is bananas but they will be off-limits for me. I think it only makes things worse and doesn't truly overcome the cravings if I am propping myself up with the sweeter fruits. I have chosen an interesting (I will not say tough) day to start. My son's basketball team is going for pizza after their game at noon, I have a baby shower to attend late in the afternoon, and my husband, son and I are going to a concert tonight-eating at a nice restaurant. But it is as I said earlier, there is never a good time. I can get a salad at the pizza joint, avoid eating at the shower, and look online before going to the restaurant tonight. I have been there before and there are foods that will work. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to do a cookup using Melissa Joulwan's plan from her clothesmakethegirl website. I tried it a couple weeks ago and what a lifesaver that was to have things ready all week. Good luck to all starting today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Day one done. Hope the rest go by with such ease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Okay, just last night I was cruising! but this morning I woke up with whole body fatigue and a killer headache. I'm sure it isn't food-related, but rather the flu... I have had a very sore throat and cough for over a week and was achy during the night. So, in my quest for immediate relief (and prevention), I took Oscillococcinum, which contains lactose and sucrose. I'm lying low on the couch with the cat, hoping for the best! How are you all doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFChris Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Okay, just last night I was cruising! but this morning I woke up with whole body fatigue and a killer headache. I'm sure it isn't food-related, but rather the flu... I have had a very sore throat and cough for over a week and was achy during the night. So, in my quest for immediate relief (and prevention), I took Oscillococcinum, which contains lactose and sucrose. I'm lying low on the couch with the cat, hoping for the best! How are you all doing? Google Whole30 compliant cold/sore throat remedies for options to help you feel better without sugars or other off-plan ingredients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EsTher Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hi ! I also started yesterday... and I had a terrible headache till a couple of hours ago (after I had lunch basically). I have tried to start twice already (the last couple of weekends to be precise). It is easy for me to go through the weekend, as I am in control of everything around me. The problem is... being at the office.. the amount of stress and the easy way to get sweet things makes it difficult. But this time I HAVE TO make it. No more excuses... I know I feel much better when I am in control of my "clean" eating. So, 28 more days to go!!. By the way, reading all your posts helps a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyce27 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I am so sorry you are sick, gardengirl! And, Esther, I know what you mean about feeling much better when you are in control of the clean eating. My anxiety and sleep clear up almost immediately when I eat this way. That should be reason enough to keep at it, but cravings and old habits can be strong for me. But I maneuvered all the craziness of my first day. If I can do that, I can just about do anything. This afternoon I got feeling kind of shaky so I mixed some cold herbal tea with some Perrier and that really did the trick for me. Another forum had posted that for those of us with strong sugar cravings to be sure to eat enough the first week, tons of veggies and meat and try not to snack. I think I needed to hear that. I tend to not eat enough at meals. Good luck to all as we head into the week! We can do this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EsTher Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Yes we can do this !! I also had to make a cup of tea to go through the afternoon, and it worked. I used to drink a lot of coffee (with milk), and when I am not eating "clean", I never have tea !!!! That's a big deal to me too.. only 2 cups of black coffee a day ( I know it is not the best but I can't give up on that) Good luck this week and see you around ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Amen to both the tea and not snacking! Snacking has been the biggest deviation (okay, and what was being snacked upon!) following my Whole 30, and I think it is key for me in terms of balance. Naturally, keeping up the veggies and eating meals "by the book" is really helpful. EsTher's comment made me remember to get a solid (and tasty!) meal plan for managing lunch at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyce27 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hope everyone had a successful day! Not snacking, for me, somehow makes this easier because I am only having to think about 3 meals and I am also good and hungry when mealtime comes around. The food just tastes so good. It never did work for me to have several little meals all day long because I was always thinking about food and what I was going to eat so often. Anyway, that's just me. Looking forward to Day 4 tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Hey, Joyce, EsTher and Jaybird913! I hope things are moving along nicely! I made the. Moroccan Meatballs from Theclothesmakethegirl, Nd wow, are they ever tasty! Super easy and family-friendly. I REALLY missing the evening chocolate... Maybe not so much the chocolate itself as the ritual, I think. I have dreamt of accidentally eating noncompliant food each night for the past three nights....so weird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Azcona Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Hey guys! Im carmen! I just started on the 22nd as well. Im leaving for hawaii on march 24th which is part of why ive joined the program today I made my first paleo mayonaisse which actually turned out better than I thought it would. Im going to use it to make chicken and egg salad. I was definitely exhausted and sore the last couple of days but today I felt a little better. The hardest part for me is giving up bread especially when I work at a bagel shop on the weekends it was great to read about everyones experiences so far! I hope we can use this as a support network so we dont fall off the bamdwagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyce27 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Welcome, Carmen! Day 5 starting up here. I, too, am trying to make different evening rituals like hot tea and reading instead of sitting on the computer or doing household chores. One thing I like about Whole30 is the idea that this is about our whole life and not just about food. I'm glad the mayo turned out well for you. I have really enjoyed having homemade mayo in the fridge. It really does taste different than the stuff in a jar from the store. Lucky for you to be heading to Hawaii! Have a great day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I'm going to pretend like I'm also going to Hawaii, just for fun! Welcome, Carmen! Chicken and egg salad (I was thinking of them as separate dishes, but wouldn't they be good combined?!) sound great! I am due for some homemade mayo. Love that fat! Happy Day 5 to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 How are you all doing? I'd like to say that "I'm rocking this W30," but surely saying it aloud will make me make some inadventant mistake or decide I can just do this whole business myself without following someone else's rules. But no, I'll keep moving forward- and feeling wonderful! Big bonus: I could have sworn the hair volume on the shower floor was at least half of what is usually there! It may be that I'm looking for such things, but I'll take it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Azcona Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks for the welcome joyce and gardengirl! And yum, combining egg and chicken salad sounds delicious today is leftover day for me. Ive made so much food the past few days in preparation for some of my longer work/school days and realized ive made way too much. So today it is hardboiled eggs, chicken, broccoli and sweet potatoes. I may decide to throw and artichoke in there too. I feel like ive been eating less than I normally do but I still feel full? Is that happening to anyone else? And yay for day six!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EsTher Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Hi, and congrats to all of you. It seems that your are doing great!!! Not my case... I have to admit that I failed (not giving any excuses). I just feel horrible. I know I have to do this. I will just let a couple of days go and start over again. I know I made a few BIG mistakes that I have to avoid next time. Anyways, be strong and keep it that way!!!! You have passed through the worst part already !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 EsTher- it seems a lot of folks have experiences with the W30 which might be considered "nonsuccesses" the first time out; often due to a lack of information (haven't yet read ISWF) or planning, which is a serious hurdle to get over sometimes. This time around It is feeling natural and positive- not really any "hard" parts.... Except for the strong craving for chocolate last Sunday night. Hope everyone else is moving on with their eyes set on improved health, no matter how long it takes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Azcona Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Oh no Esther! I'm sorry you didn't make it. This is definitely getting hard so I don't blame you! I was at work today and all I could think about was eating a bagel. I'm glad I'm home and around good food that I can eat Tonight I'm gonna make some taco salad!! I'm excited. Happy day eight to us! We are about 1/4 done with the program! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Taco salad.. sounds divine! I am finding that I'm not following the timeline with regard to emotions or how I'm feeling physically. My body seems to be saying "thank you!," as I'm feeling great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Azcona Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I completely agree with you gardengirl! I'm already feeling like I have more energy plus my figure has slimmed down noticeably. I feel like I'm actually just moving through the stages faster than average. I've definitely hit the hangover/killallthethings/exhaustion/bloated stages, but they have not lasted long. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be the hardest days because supposedly we are not yet to have experienced the benefits but I find that I already feel feel better and my clothes fit better. I get excited thinking about how great I'm going to feel by day thirty. The road has definitely still been tough, however. I feel like I'm getting the crazy cravings early. I'm having a hard time not thinking about the food that I can't have but I know that this stage too will pass, and I feel so good that I'm basically telling myself that the bite of the bagel I crave will only make me feel terrible about myself. It's hard, but I know I can make it through! I made scrambled eggs this morning for breakfast with bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach, mushroom and salsa. It was pretty delicious. Now I'm steaming a couple of artichokes to go with some leftover chicken for lunch. Tonight is leftover taco salad (which was great btw, but if you make it go easy on the salsa and guacamole because I had a bit too much of those compared to the lettuce/meat ratio.) Tomorrow I'm feeling like steak and I'll probably make some chicken as well to hold me through over my long days coming up at the end of the week. Happy day ten to everyone! We are about 1/3 done with the program!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardengirl Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 OOoh, I like the 1/3rd idea. Two chunks to go! Today was a leftover day (see my log for the sad details!). I have cooked so much the past week that there was just a bit of everything. Tomorrow evening will need to be another cooking session (unless I get inspired and think of something for the crock pot to be ready to go in the am). I'm with you on the whole "response to the program" thing. Both times I have done this, by day 4 I am feeling very different and it's also reflected in the waistline. Lucky us- I won't complain! I'm currently struggling with portion size; not fretting over it (I'm trusting that time will whittle that down a bit) but just aware that I'm sometimes eating until "Thanksgiving full" rather than satiated. I think I need to consider what is so terrible about being hungry when mealtime arrives- and look forward to that! Another change which I think is positive, is that by the time a decent bedtime arrives, I am so ready to rest my head. I think in the past, the natural signals were interrupted by so much chocolate, that I didn't get that winding down feeling. It is helping to foster more and better sleep. Your eggs sounded really good. Now I'm inspired to rid my mornings of the boring same thing (which I really don't consider boring, but its weird to write the same thing day after day!) and include veggies with the eggs. Just writing that makes me long for some cheese to top it off! Naw, a little avocado and salsa and it will be complete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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