My First Whole30

[starxlr8]

The first day was an "I got this" breeze. Now at the end of Day 2 I am mourning my diet coke and my dairy. Only a bit of a mild headache thus far. Starting to feel a little fatigued. Here's what's been on the menu thus far:

 

Day 1

 

small breakfast steak + egg fried in coconut oil

1/2 red bell pepper, raw

few slices of apple

espresso with coconut milk - yuck!

 

pork and sweet potato hash with zucchini, kale, tomatoes, hot pepper pesto (compliant), and coconut milk and topped with fried egg - favorite meal thus far

 

chicken apple sausage cooked in coconut oil, bit of compliant deli mustard

onion, apple, and cabbage sauteed in coconut oil

 

Day 2

 

small breakfast steak + egg fried in coconut oil and ghee

1/2 cucumber, raw

handful of raw pecans
bulletproof coffee made with espresso, hot water, coconut oil, ghee - double yuck!

 

leftover hash from Day 1

leftover cabbage from Day 1

roughly 1T seeds

 

6 pork and spinach meatballs (not a keeper recipe, but OK)

2 hardboiled eggs in homemade tomato sauce (like them better poached in the sauce)

red peppers and onions sauteed in coconut oil and coconut flour

 

How am I doing? I haven't been hungry except at meal time and always satiated. Think I need to figure out my portions so that I actually have room for a little fruit. 

[GlenG]

Looks good and you've got good variety. Doing my first too; just finished day 23. One more week! Take it a day ata time.

[Tom Denham]

You are light on veggies at breakfast. The composition of your meals otherwise sounds good. I was a little concerned that you might not have gotten enough protein at day 2 lunch. Be sure to get at least a palm-size portion of protein at each meal per the meal planning guide: http://whole30.com/downloads/whole30-meal-planning.pdf

[starxlr8]

Thanks for the feedback. I am looking forward to getting on the other side of the energy slump so that I feel more excited about cooking in the morning. I definitely need to pre-chop some veggies to throw in the skillet! While I'm thankful I've never been into sweets for breakfast, in the recent past I've had a lot of days where my breakfast was a diet coke. So there's a mental mindset shift I need to do about eating in the morning.

 

Today has thus far been the worst. Majorly cranky (sorry DH) and have a low roar headache. Feeling tired and unfocused. It's very helpful to know this is as to be expected. Celebrating a little victory of going out for coffee with a friend. Was not tempted by the pastries. I ordered an iced coffee, black... and beginning to wonder if I really like coffee at all. 

[starxlr8]

Day 3

 

small breakfast steak + egg fried in coconut oil

(no vegetables, I know)

iced coffee

(broke down and finally took some ibuprofen for this headache as it was interfering with working.)

 

1.5 cups kale sautéed in coconut oil with 3 scrambled eggs, coconut aminos, and sesame seeds

1/2 avocado

1/2 cup strawberries

**My favorite meal thus far and actually something I would have eaten pre-Whole30 so it's almost comfort food.

 

Dinner is planned as:

broiled flank steak with charmoula sauce

baked sweet potato with ghee and cinnamon

asparagus roasted with coconut aminos and balsamic vinegar

 

[starxlr8]

Dinner turned out as planned, though a lot of oven use on a hot summer day! I did have some banana, coconut, and almonds with it as well. 

 

Today my biggest challenge is beverages. I seriously miss the refreshment of a diet coke. I am drinking water and compliant sparkling water and hot lemon water and hot tea and iced tea but I really don't like any of it. 

[Dewdrop75]

Have you had LaCroix? I love the Coconut LaCroix! And since it is sparkling water, might just give you that feeling like the Diet Coke did. You seem to be doing pretty good, but again, as Tom said, more veggies.

[GFChris]

Today my biggest challenge is beverages. I seriously miss the refreshment of a diet coke. I am drinking water and compliant sparkling water and hot lemon water and hot tea and iced tea but I really don't like any of it. 

 

Have you tried kombucha or fruit-infused water?  Those are some possible refreshing options.

[starxlr8]

I have had the lime and grapefruit La Croix. They're OK, but don't quite hit the spot. They taste like flat sprite and fresca, respectively.

 

I have not tried Kombucha and not sure where to buy it here. I don't really like tea at all though. I'm trying, but it's a hard sell. 
 

I've done a lemon wedge in water. Are you speaking of other fruit-infused waters that are commercial?

 

Didn't intend to cross-post, but I did create a thread in Troubleshooting on this:
http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/20082-cant-quench-my-thirst/#entry209684

[starxlr8]

Day 4
 

1.5 cups kale sautéed in coconut oil with 3 scrambled eggs, coconut aminos, and sesame seeds

1/2 avocado

1/2 cup strawberries

 

 

5 pork and spinach meatballs + 2 hard-boiled eggs in tomato sauce

1 peach

(my lunch was small so I ended up eating a late afternoon mini meal)

1 chicken apple sausage

1/2 cucumber

1 avocado 

Dinner is planned as:
chicken breast
broccoli with ghee
sweet potato with ghee and cinnamon

1/2 pear

[sylvana]

Good job sticking to it!  I myself am doing my first whole 30 and today is day 5!  My hardest thing to give up is corn products and potatoes! ughhh.

 

You are doing great and if you miss diet coke, try the carbonated water with lemon.  It actually takes away part of the craving.

http://whole9life.com/2012/10/quench-your-thirst-whole9-style/

[starxlr8]

Last night's dinner was as planned but I didn't have the pear. Was too full. 

Day 5

Still had a headache today, but feeling less tired and more enthusiastic. I'm having fun combining flavors.

 

2 eggs + 1 sweet potato sautéed in coconut oil

1/2 avocado

 

2 chicken apple sausages + 1 large zucchini sautéed in coconut oil

homemade sauce: 2 T dijon + 1 T tahini + 2 T water + 2 t coconut aminos + 2 t lemon juice

 

Dinner is planned as:

salmon + carrots + cauliflower in red curry coconut sauce

fruit salad

[starxlr8]

Salmon did not happen as I had a major afternoon slump and started to feel very frustrated about this whole thing. Had a snack of bananas, almonds, and coconut but very much realized I was feeding my brain and not my stomach. First time I've really snacked, but definitely need to a new 3:45pm ritual.

 

Asked DH to pick up ground beef on the way home so we could do burgers on the grill. I made my first batch of mayo (so yummy!) and had protein-style wraps with sweet potato fries. Mixed the beef with coconut aminos, salt, pepper, and paprika - and they were so juicy and yummy! A "burgers and fries" meal was just what I needed on Day 5. Maybe that will be our new Friday thing instead of ordering a pizza.

[Dewdrop75]

Hope your headache is better today. Sounds like you are working through your frustrations. That burger sounds really yummy!

[starxlr8]

Day 6

 

2 eggs

1 leftover burger + dollop of mayo

tomato slices

strawberries

 

(had to pack a picnic lunch)

chicken apple sausage

carrots

grape tomatoes

pecans, walnuts & raisins

 

salmon

coleslaw

sweet potato w/ almond butter

 

Feeling good and have a meal plan and grocery list ready for another week of whole30 eating!

[Dewdrop75]

Good going on making the meal plan, that made all the difference for me this past week. How is your headache? Glad to see you are feeling good.

[starxlr8]

@Dewdrop75 - My headaches are mostly gone. Thanks! I'm focusing on drinking a lot of water.

 

Day 7

 

eggs scrambled in coconut oil with onion, tomato, kale

1/2 avocado

 

burrito bowl - ground beef, onions, sweet potatoes topped with guacamole, lettuce, salsa

 

chicken piccata (no capers, coconut flour) 

large salad with tomatoes and homemade ranch

[starxlr8]

Day 8

 

2 eggs scrambled with mushrooms, coconut aminos, sesame seeds (late breakfast)

 

saute of onion, zucchini, sweet potato, bell pepper, 2 chicken apple sausages

topped with homemade ranch

 

lettuce wrap tacos with seasoned ground beef, salsa, guacamole

orange slices

 

strawberries and a few almonds topped with a sauce of almond butter, coconut milk, cinnamon

 

Enjoying all the good food and feeling satisfied with every meal. Taste buds definitely changing. Confident that it's easy to cook healthy at home, but getting anxious about the real world. Have two lunches and two dinners out of the house this week. 

[starxlr8]

Day 9

2 eggs fried in coconut oil over sweet potato hash

leftovers from Day 8 lunch

 

sweet potato topped with onion, red pepper, mushroom, broiled sirloin, and a whole mashed avocado

 

strawberries and a few almonds topped with a sauce of almond butter, coconut milk, cinnamon

 

Yesterday was the hardest thus far. After work I went through two hours of conversation with myself in order to make something for supper. I REALLY wanted pizza and I was tired of cooking every single meal. But I also didn't want to fail at this. What got me out of my funk was imagining what would be the most decadent-but-compliant meal I could make. What came to mind was a huge serving of guacamole (1 whole avocado) topping something mexican-inspired. I seasoned some sirloin and popped it under the broiler while sautéing diced veggies in coconut oil. I microwaved the largest sweet potato I had and topped it with everything else. 

I don't have a lot of change in how I feel yet, but I am HUGELY recognizing the difference between physical and emotional hunger. To be honest I feel like an addict who wants a fix some of the time, that I'm going after a pleasure-inducing chemical reaction in my brain. Mid-afternoons are the times I want a sugar+dairy fix (sugar free iced latte, for ex.) for energy. And then in the evenings, I want the grain+dairy fix (pizza, nachos etc.) to sedate me. 

Tonight will be a different sort of challenge. We're going out for my mother-in-law's birthday. The only chain restaurant in town is Cracker Barrel, so we pushed to have it there so I can have my order picked out. I'm going to do my best and not stress about it. 

[starxlr8]

Day 10

2 eggs cooked in ghee, topped with two huge scoops of fresh salsa, strawberries and spoonful of almond butter

italian-style spicy stir fry with chicken sausage and veggies

ribeye steak, sweet potato, broccoli, apple slices at Cracker Barrel (proud of staying compliant, was so hard to not eat a biscuit)

[Dewdrop75]

@Dewdrop75 - My headaches are mostly gone. Thanks! I'm focusing on drinking a lot of water.

 

 

Glad to see your headaches are better, hope they are completely gone now. It seems you are not eating enough protein for breakfast, when I had extra large eggs I needed 3, the eggs I got from Costco are really small (they say large), I need 4 of those. Make sure you are eating what you can fit in your hand.

 

ribeye steak, sweet potato, broccoli, apple slices at Cracker Barrel (proud of staying compliant, was so hard to not eat a biscuit)

 

WTG staying compliant while eating out. I have yet to eat out since starting, I am too scared, have no idea what I would order.

[starxlr8]

I am feeling awesome now, thanks!

 

I don't know how I could eat more eggs without feeling uncomfortably full. We use Jumbo eggs and I do use three when scrambling them.

[starxlr8]

The only craving I haven't been able to kick is for pizza - and I'm coming on here now because it's hitting me hard. My husband just left on a business trip for the whole week and my daughter is home sick today. I'm worn out, especially after the long weekend.

 

I'm on Day 15 and have stayed on track all day. The plan for tonight is to cook some ground beef with onion, garlic, and sweet potato in mexican spices and then top with lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. This is comfort food to me while still being compliant.