Lifting the Weight

[Intrepid4]

Day 0.

 

I have been so influenced by my Crossfit coach/Paleo enthusiast daughter, that over the past few years I have drifted toward a better lifestyle rather in spite of myself. So I am finding that doing any kind of overhaul of my kitchen is going to be pretty minimal. Nonetheless, I am 50 pounds overweight, lacking in energy, and ready to step it up a notch. Or two. Or three.

 

My challenges:

stopping sugar; eating more veggies; eating 3 meals/day; eating balanced meals.

 

My hopes:

losing weight; getting rid of that pervasive "I think I'm coming down with something" feeling; greater self esteem.

 

My Whole9 goals:

Movement: walking/weights/stretching (some combination thereof) 30 minutes 4x/wk.

Natural Environment: get out in nature at least 2x/wk.

Personal Growth: devote 1 hour 4/wk to my hobbies of stained glass, photography or SoulCollage.

 

Whew! Today's big challenge: trying to resist the "last supper" mentality of a final splurge before diving in. Okay, so breakfast was a mocha and oat/blueberry bar. But I promise not to go to Olive Garden for a cheese alfredo platter with extra breadsticks.

 

 

[Tina R]

Day 0.

 

I have been so influenced by my Crossfit coach/Paleo enthusiast daughter, that over the past few years I have drifted toward a better lifestyle rather in spite of myself. So I am finding that doing any kind of overhaul of my kitchen is going to be pretty minimal. Nonetheless, I am 50 pounds overweight, lacking in energy, and ready to step it up a notch. Or two. Or three.

 

My challenges:

stopping sugar; eating more veggies; eating 3 meals/day; eating balanced meals.

 

My hopes:

losing weight; getting rid of that pervasive "I think I'm coming down with something" feeling; greater self esteem.

 

My Whole9 goals:

Movement: walking/weights/stretching (some combination thereof) 30 minutes 4x/wk.

Natural Environment: get out in nature at least 2x/wk.

Personal Growth: devote 1 hour 4/wk to my hobbies of stained glass, photography or SoulCollage.

 

Whew! Today's big challenge: trying to resist the "last supper" mentality of a final splurge before diving in. Okay, so breakfast was a mocha and oat/blueberry bar. But I promise not to go to Olive Garden for a cheese alfredo platter with extra breadsticks.

Welcome! Looks like you have a great plan. You can do it!

[PamH]

Day 0.  You made me smile.

 

That pervasive, "I think I'm coming down with something."  THAT is one that you will absolutely love losing more than the weight.  It might take more than 30 days, but it does happen.  

 

Try not to focus this month on weight loss, but instead getting rid of that sugar and developing better eating habits.  I struggle with eating meals… so many years of snacking ALL DAY while I stayed home with the kids.  Skipping breakfast.  Old habits are hard to break.

 

I hope you embrace the physical activity.  It really helps me motivate and clears my head.

 

My first "last supper" was a piece of Chocolate Factory carrot cake.  I get you.  

 

Here's to a great plan!

[PamH]

And did you resist the 'Last Supper'?  

[Intrepid4]

My last supper was the thing that I think I will miss the most: my protein powder smoothie. Rice and pea protein sweetened with stevia, so it's a no go for Whole 30.

 

Need to go shopping today for real food. Getting a later start than I wanted to, what with losing an hour to daylight savings. Problem is, I actually lose twice that because it takes me another hour to figure out how to set all my clocks ahead.

 

Oh, and I topped off my last supper with a handful of dark chocolate chips. Didn't set well with my reflux issues, so maybe that was a good reminder to me of part of the reason I am doing this. Threw the rest of the chocolate chips away.

[Intrepid4]

Day 1.

 

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, sautéed kale. The bacon did have turbinado sugar in it, but they were my last three strips. Bacon is right up there with chocolate for me, so that may be my one exception on this diet, but I will hold off on buying more for now.

 

Took my "before" photos, weight and measurements. Yikes! That was an unpleasant eye opener. But I guess the good news is that I'm doing something about it, right?

 

After breakfast I went to the grocery store (a challenge for me in the best of circumstances since I deal with social anxiety issues). They have a whole section there devoted to vegetables. All sorts of vegetables! Who knew!?! I bought some.

 

Lunch: curried ground bison with steamed cauliflower, carrots and coconut milk. Pretty tasty. I'm drinking cranwater (1 part pure cranberry juice to 7 parts water), a throwback to a diet I was on previously (Fat Flush). I actually like it, and I think it's good for me.

 

Not much energy today, but that's my current typical state, not diet-related I presume. Looking forward to that changing.

[PamH]

My last supper was the thing that I think I will miss the most: my protein powder smoothie. Rice and pea protein sweetened with stevia, so it's a no go for Whole 30.

 

Need to go shopping today for real food. Getting a later start than I wanted to, what with losing an hour to daylight savings. Problem is, I actually lose twice that because it takes me another hour to figure out how to set all my clocks ahead.

 

Oh, and I topped off my last supper with a handful of dark chocolate chips. Didn't set well with my reflux issues, so maybe that was a good reminder to me of part of the reason I am doing this. Threw the rest of the chocolate chips away.

GASP!  Threw away dark chocolate?  

[PamH]

Day 1.

 

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, sautéed kale. The bacon did have turbinado sugar in it, but they were my last three strips. Bacon is right up there with chocolate for me, so that may be my one exception on this diet, but I will hold off on buying more for now.

 

Took my "before" photos, weight and measurements. Yikes! That was an unpleasant eye opener. But I guess the good news is that I'm doing something about it, right?

 

After breakfast I went to the grocery store (a challenge for me in the best of circumstances since I deal with social anxiety issues). They have a whole section there devoted to vegetables. All sorts of vegetables! Who knew!?! I bought some.

 

Lunch: curried ground bison with steamed cauliflower, carrots and coconut milk. Pretty tasty. I'm drinking cranwater (1 part pure cranberry juice to 7 parts water), a throwback to a diet I was on previously (Fat Flush). I actually like it, and I think it's good for me.

 

Not much energy today, but that's my current typical state, not diet-related I presume. Looking forward to that changing.

See if you can buy pork belly.  Then fry it up and salt it yourself.  It will be compliant.  REALLY good.

 

Social anxiety could be greatly reduced on this diet.  I feel my anxiety taken down several notches.  I am in perimenopause, and I get this 'fight or flight' crap out of the blue.  It has barely happened since I have taken out sugar (and not even completely).

[Intrepid4]

Hmmm. Pork belly. Thanks, Pam, I'll look for it.

 

Had a banana for afternoon snack (sweet tooth was nudging me). Wanted it with almond butter, but the brand I have on hand has sugar in it. Will have to remedy that. My daughter gave me a brand name that omits the sugar: Justin's.

 

Dinner: baked chicken breast and (frozen) broccoli with ghee. I forgot about preparing a veggie so the broc was a last-minute effort to round out my meal. I'm too used to just making one thing for dinner, usually some type of meat. I also had some left over creamy mushroom stew (cooked W30 compliant, recipe c/o Paleo Leap), so I ate that as well, just to cheer myself up from the soggy broc disappointment.

 

So Day One is in the books. Even if I get the munchies tonight, there's just not that much in the house that could tempt me. Guess I could dig the choc chips out of the garbage bin, but that would just be wrong. On oh-so-many levels.

[PamH]

I am going to like following you.  Same sense of humor.  

[GFChris]

Hmmm. Pork belly. Thanks, Pam, I'll look for it.

 

Had a banana for afternoon snack (sweet tooth was nudging me). Wanted it with almond butter, but the brand I have on hand has sugar in it. Will have to remedy that. My daughter gave me a brand name that omits the sugar: Justin's.

 

Dinner: baked chicken breast and (frozen) broccoli with ghee. I forgot about preparing a veggie so the broc was a last-minute effort to round out my meal. I'm too used to just making one thing for dinner, usually some type of meat. I also had some left over creamy mushroom stew (cooked W30 compliant, recipe c/o Paleo Leap), so I ate that as well, just to cheer myself up from the soggy broc disappointment.

 

So Day One is in the books. Even if I get the munchies tonight, there's just not that much in the house that could tempt me. Guess I could dig the choc chips out of the garbage bin, but that would just be wrong. On oh-so-many levels.

On the snacks, the recommendation, if you are hungry (hungry = you could eat steamed fish and broccoli), is to make them a mini-meal containing a protein and fat. Nuts are a fat source. Save your 1-2 servings of fruit to have with or immediately after meals only. 

The need for snacks can be an indication that your earlier meals need to be bigger. Play with your portion sizes, using the meal template as a guide, until your meals satiate you for 4-5 hours.

[missmary]

My daughter gave me a brand name that omits the sugar: Justin's.

Just a word of warning: like many brands, Justin's has versions with sugar and versions without. Read the label on whichever one you pick to be sure.

[Intrepid4]

Day Two.

 

Breakfast: two poached eggs atop sautéed (in coconut oil) zucchini and yellow squash. Woke up late and was in a hurry, so I'm glad I had preplanned what I would eat this a.m.

 

Lunch with my oldest daughter: a salad of greens, boiled egg, sliced avocado, chicken, and dried cranberries with an oil-based dressing. Also some asparagus soup and coffee. It was delicious.

 

I raised two beautiful daughters, the oldest always ready for any challenge, the younger more sedate, but both sweet, loving individuals. How they grew up to be known by their co-workers as Mad Dog and The Terminator, respectively, I'll never know. I must have done something right! So for the sake of their anonymity should my log ramblings become too embarrassing, I'll just call them by their nicknames. Besides, it sounds more fun.

 

So Mad Dog (I was right, it IS fun) has agreed to do the Whole30 with me beginning today. Yay! She's done it once before, and eats paleo for the most part anyway, so she will be a good inspiration for me, and a good source of nutritional information.

 

Dinner tonight will be leftover curried bison with veggies, and maybe some frozen berries for dessert.

 

Now to plan tomorrow's fare. I've never thought this much about food before (unlike my cat, who thinks about food constantly). It's kind of interesting to pay attention to what you eat. What a concept!

[Intrepid4]

Day Three.

 

Woke up feeling better than usual, but felt a little sick to my stomach while making breakfast. Feeling a little iffy right now, but I made my coffee half decaf today instead of 3/4 decaf as usual, and I think the extra caffeine may be affecting me.

 

Breakfast: egg scramble with zucchini, summer squash, onion and sweet potato. Mad Dog makes great scrambles, and I was trying to copy hers, but my results were pretty marginal. Ate it anyway.

 

Last night I had berries for dessert: black-, blue- and raspberries mixed together. Added some coconut milk, and it was great! Whoever invented coconuts was really onto something.

[Intrepid4]

Lunch today: the last of the bison curry w/ veggies (Whew: I ate more cauliflower in the past three days than I've eaten in the prior five years), grape tomatoes and avocado.

 

Dinner: baked chicken breast, roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with melted coconut oil, cranwater and an apple.

 

Went for a short walk with Mad Dog (and Mad Baby and Mad Puppy). Need to refocus on my non-dietary goals, exercise being one of them.

 

According to the Whole30 timeline, this might have been a day for starting to feel cranky. I didn't notice any difference, so either I'm just always cranky, or I'm not having that particular response. Yet.

 

Three days down, only twenty-seven to go!

[Intrepid4]

Day Four.

 

I really didn't want to make breakfast this morning. I haven't been truly hungry at all since starting Whole30, so each meal feels like a chore. A chore to cook, a chore to eat, a chore to clean up. Is this the crankiness coming on???

 

Breakfast: 2 soft-boiled eggs, a sweet potato with coconut butter, and 3/4 decaf coffee. My first time using c butter. It was delish!

 

Okay, enough whining about having to eat healthy food. Talk about a first world problem.

 

I'm off to meet the day!

[Intrepid4]

Lunch today courtesy of Mad Dog: paleo no-bean chili and a salad of greens, apple, nuts and dried cranberries with a vinaigrette dressing.

 

Dinner: left over chicken and Brussels sprouts, 1/2 sweet potato with coconut butter and 1/2 banana.

 

Trying to plan out tomorrow's meals, and I'm not feeling inspired. Have some hamburger thawed out in the fridge, so I guess I'll do something with that...

 

Funny... I had protein/fruit smoothies for days on end and didn't mind. And here I am only four days into this and I'm already tiring of eggs. And veggies. And food in general.

 

Sigh.

[Intrepid4]

Day Five.

 

Breakfast: more eggs scrambled with asparagus and carrot. 3/4 decaf coffee.

 

Lunch: more no-bean chili and some avocado.

 

Dinner: more chicken and half an acorn squash with coconut butter. Mixed berries with c. milk.

 

I'm definitely getting into a rut. I need to do better planning and more organized shopping. Maybe I'll spend some time tomorrow looking at recipe ideas and then shop and cook over the weekend.

 

Didn't sleep well last night. I've read about people on Whole30 dreaming about food. Last night I was having nightmares about trying to weigh myself! I guess even in my sleep I march to a different drummer.

[Intrepid4]

Day Six.

 

Breakfast: spinach sautéed in veggie broth, two eggs, 3/4 apple and almond butter. 3/4 decaf coffee.

 

Lunch: the last of the chicken (Yay!!!!), half a sweet potato with c butter.

 

Dinner: hamburger chili with tomato and onion, 1 spoonful of almond butter.

 

Got pretty hungry between lunch and dinner. Hungry enough to eat steamed fish and broccoli? Maybe. But I didn't have any on hand. Should have eaten more for lunch. I think I will boil some eggs to have a quick protein source available.

 

So the plan is to go to Whole Foods tomorrow and buy pretty much anything except chicken. Guess that's not really much of a plan. I will try to refine it before I head out the door.

[Intrepid4]

Day Seven.

 

Breakfast: veggies sautéed in broth, 2 eggs. Coffee. Forgot to add a fat. I guess egg yolks have fat???

 

Lunch: left over hamburger chili, 1/2 acorn squash with c butter.

 

Dinner: I'm not sure... not feeling well at all (maybe a touch of the flu?) Might have to make do tonight with something less than stellar as far as balance. Will stay compliant, though.

 

Had my first food dream. Well, not food... I was drinking a margarita, and suddenly realized I wasn't supposed to have alcohol. And then I freaked out all over again about the sugar content in the margarita mix. Woke up thirsty.

 

One week down!!! Yay!

[Intrepid4]

Day Eight.

 

Ended up just having a banana and almond butter for dinner. Just didn't feel up to cooking.

 

This morning, I awoke with a headache, but I went ahead and cooked breakfast, then went to Whole Foods. Had to cut my shopping short because I became very dizzy and broke out in a sweat while in the store. Meant to make a turkey meatloaf for lunch today, but again don't feel up to it. I have read and been advised to make chicken soup and such, but if you're feeling too ill to cook, what are you supposed to do?

 

Breakfast: 2 poached eggs, zucchini/summer squash/onion sautéed in veggie broth, and some almonds.

 

Lunch: 3 scrambled eggs, a banana and almond butter. Not the best, I know, but that was about all I could handle.

 

I'm trying to drink more water today, but other than that, not sure what to do...

 

No clue what I will do for dinner.

[missmary]

tough love time: you need to eat.

 

You may be coming down with something, but I'm guessing you feel bad because you are not eating enough. I'm guessing you have a headache because you didn't have a proper dinner last night (this happens to me). Eat something! You have ground turkey for that meatloaf? Cook up a patty, throw a sweet potato in the microwave. It doesn't have to be fancy. You can do this! and you deserve it.

[Intrepid4]

Okay, missmary, tough love works.

 

Took a long nap this afternoon, felt quite a bit better when I woke up. I went ahead and put the meatloaf together and stuck it in the oven with a couple of sweet potatoes. Still feeling dizzy and a little feverish, but at least I had a healthy dinner.

 

Dinner: turkey meatloaf, sweet potato w/coconut butter, berries w/coconut milk.

 

Drinking lots of water. Will try to get to bed early tonight. Hope this passes by tomorrow, because I'm scheduled to get together with my daughter to do some cooking tomorrow. It's day seven for her today.

[Intrepid4]

Day Nine.

 

Night sweats, dizziness, GI troubles, oh, my!

 

Maybe I'm just detoxing still. Decided I'm probably not contagious though, so I went over to Mad Dog's house and we cooked up a couple of things to last us into the week. It was kind of a tag team effort between nursing the newborn (her) and holding the baby so she wouldn't cry (me). But we got a garlic-studded pork shoulder into the crockpot, made hazelnut milk, roasted almonds and cashews, and I got two free meals out of the deal. Not bad.

 

Breakfast: eggs, sautéed sweet potato, onion, and greens cooked in bacon fat.

 

Lunch: spaghetti squash with a turkey meat sauce.

 

Dinner: turkey meatloaf and a small sweet potato with c butter.

 

Feeling super full. Maybe I need to start paying attention to serving sizes.

 

Took a second set of photos today. In the side view I can see that my stomach has really sucked in, but the front and back views don't show much change. A good start, though, for only nine days. Can't wait to see what the next nine bring!

[Intrepid4]

Day Ten.

 

Feeling much better today. Got a really late breakfast (scheduling just worked out that way), and then took a nap mid-afternoon, so I only ended up with two meals today, Not intentionally; I'll be back to three tomorrow.

 

Breakfast: egg scramble with onions and kale, shoe string sweet potatoes, 1/4 avocado, decaf.

 

Dinner: pulled pork with my impromptu rendition of BBQ sauce (now I know why I don't write recipes for a living), kale, pistachios, berries w/coconut milk.

 

I have not been having my usual reflux issues for the past several days (not even with my 'special' BBQ sauce!), so I think that is a direct result of doing this diet. How cool is that!