Dirty 30 8/21 Start

[Geminimik]

Old and new alike = good job on all your posts. Deb, I'm lookin for a LeGrande update. Whoever asked for an amen...AMEN.

 

off to bed, you guys are amazing.

 

Miki

[drtracyb]

I'm so excited - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and then I will be in a place where I can jump in on this whole30.

 

I am -- moving into my new house on Saturday.  We have been living through a six week remodel of the old house and living in hotels or among the destruction of the old house all summer.

 

I did - give notice to one of the two full-time jobs I was working at over the summer.  I couldn't make up my mind which one I wanted, and since one of them hired me on a 60 probation, I just kept both.  Well, the one that put me on probation, I decided I didn't want them, so I gave notice and accepted the one that had accepted me with no strings, even though they knew I was considering another place.  My favorite facebook quote recently - "Stop holding onto people who keep letting go of you.  Pay attention to the faithful people.  The ones you don't have to impress.  The ones who always have your back.  The ones that love you with no strings attached!"  So I picked them.

 

My children are back in school.  My days are freeeeeeeeeeee.

 

My whole30 starts sept1 and I plan to tag along with this group.  I think i was with the originators in May, too.  :-)

[dcducks1]

Good morning Cowboys, Cowgirls, Cowpokes, and Goat Herders,

 

Been up since 4am getting ready for my flight back home. Showered, dressed, and ready to go. Hopefully I can sleep on the flight back and the 3 hour flight feels like 15 minutes. Already looking forward to everything I need to get done over the weekend and maybe squeeze in a little fun at the island also. A wonderful day to everyone, keep up the good work and encouragement......you are not just changing your life.......you are changing mine!

 

 

Dave

[Sissy13]

...

[jump4life]

Quotes of the Day (QODs)

 

Twinmommykat  -    I love the idea of  QOD!   Is this a regular feature????  Are there a whole series of QODs that I have missed?

 

Here are two Whole30 related ones I have collected during the past month:

 

  “The Whole30 is not a diet. …It is life-changing…. It is a test of the level of respect you have for this one body you were given.” Tara O.  from Whole30 Daily

 

“ Honestly, I think that’s why the Whole30 is so challenging. It looks like it’s about food, and we talk about the food, and you can make it just about food, but it’s really about you. Me. Us. And life.”  Melissa Joulwan from “Cheating at Solitaire” 

 

and one more on food as meditation:

 

If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth-  and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots-- and that is meditation.  If we chew every morsel of our food in that way we become grateful-   and when you are grateful, you are happy.    Thich Nhat Hanh

[Ann@HowcrossCastle]

Good morning, all, and Happy Friday. Today is day 29 of my planned Whole 60.

For Meal 1, I had sausages and mashed white potato, grapes, and BROCCOLI with clarified butter, at 8:00 this morning. I have been eating veggies at meal 1, but not quite enough, and usually spinach in a bowl of chili or taco meat. This is really the first time I looked at a morning plate and saw meat, potatoes, and veg. I also think I have been eating HUGE morning meals, but it dawned on me today (yeah, yeah, day 29, slow learner... that's OK!) that these meals are only huge in comparison to toast and coffee, or just coffee (my usual start to the day pre-W30). Hmmmmm.

So, onward, with eyes open wider than yesterday. My energy remains good, and I am thinking about goals for the next 30-day period. My goal for this first 30 days was short but intense: Do a Whole 30. Full stop. The idea of no sugar or bread for a month seemed tremendously difficult, but attainable. That last bit is important; I actually had hope, for the first time in a long time. As I said in my first introductory post, I'd been living on toast and bags and bags of jelly beans. No more!

Going forward, I find I am much more focused on what I CAN eat rather than what I choose to abstain from. That's a huge important difference for me: abundance rather than scarcity; hope rather than despair; fun rather than grim; and healthy rather than sick and suffering. Yes, "it starts with food," and then I keep going.

a.

[Geminimik]

Good Morning Ann, Joni, Dr.T, Kat, Darling Dave and the rest of the Dirty Thirty Gang,

 

Dr. T, Congrats on kids in school and movin back home.

 

Glad to hear everyone is feeling strong and empowered. The lower craving, high energy and no itching are my fav benefits. I struggle with the constant shopping and cooking, but am excited to have a 3 day weekend where I can fill the freezer and frig.

 

Exercise will be a big part of this weekend for me.

 

Deb, can't wail to cook my Tilapia with lemon & capers served atop fresh raw spinach and some cauli rice.

 

Meadow, you rocked this summer and are an inspiration to us all, CC you too - especially with all your exercise. I honestly have no idea how you and Rick do all you do, you are definitely meant for each other!

 

Higs, Rosann, Cara, Laurie - I hope you have an amazing weekend. I don't plan to post much, but will try to keep up a smidge.

 

MamaMiki

[Sissy13]

...

[outdorsgrl]

Good morning! Day 5 for me...and definitely more conscience of what I am eating, especially the coconut manna. I am working hard to limit it to 4-5tbsp. a day. I forgot to mention I am FODMAP intolerant at the moment...and from what I have read...coconut is a high FODMAP food. I would love to be part of the IOD...but am a little stricter than even an AIP. I will do what I can! I did an AM yoga circuit this morning...but would much rather have done it on a paddle board in the ocean, etc. like what Meadow posted!

Have a fabulous weekend! Thinking of everyone...much success with your W30's! :-)

[NannyD]

Thanks for the encouraging words Meadowlily... love it! I looks so fabulous in my 140 lbs ;-)

 

Ann, I like your recipe. Tostones yummyyyyy.

 

To everybody else have an awesome weekend. Busy here today.  Test day since it is my husband B-Day, with 2 kids at college and a 13 years old at home, I think my Father in law is coming, and my cousin, her 2 kids and her mom, to celebrate my hubby.  Planning on the smallest cake I can find for them, some good meat and a bunch of greens for me. I will nail this down! :-)

 

Happy labor day!

[Deb.]

Hello all!!

 

Dave I hope you’re getting some rest and will enjoy a nice long weekend. I bet its SO good to be home. 

 

CC – love that you filled up the cooler! I’m so happy you’re reunited with Rick! When is the triathlon? I LOVE the quote about the vision boards!!! I am going to start art journaling in the mornings and that will be a big part of it. 

 

Jump4Life, YAY for you trying anchovies, I LOVE them!!!  I don’t dare make them an IOD bcs so many people don't love them but they are so tasty to me, salty little critters.

 

Kat, I haven’t been to that butcher in Santa Monica but my co worker who is a mad foodie and went to culinary school goes every week and says they are fantastic. Lindy and Grundy is much closer for me so I tend to go there.  Yes I LOVE all the Little House books and often think about the food they made, remember the blackbird pie? I think it was blackbirds.  SO happy that WF came through for you!

 

Laurie how are you doing and how is Steve?

 

Miki Mik, enjoy your yummy lunch! And an exercise filled weekend! We must make another plan soon. When is Cabo? And how are my boyfriends Stad and Cho?

 

Higs, yeahhhhhh with the duck fat! Although I’ve gotta make some suet/tallow/kidney fat and see what that’s all about to emulate Meadow’s Bear.

 

Dr Tracy, excited for this next phase for you. New job, new house, kids in school, YAY! Moving is such an upheaval, you will be thrilled to be settled.

Were you in the group with us 5/5-ers? Miki Dave and I were 5/5 and then we were 6/9. I do remember your screenname but I thought that was from stalking around the forum! Any which way, so very happy that you’re here!

 

Joni I feel you on the grocery bills. It was a new one for me when I hit $200 at Whole Foods! Eeeeek!! I hate the snail mail and never open it so I admire your mail opening!

 

Ann, so great Day 29 and YES we have to focus on what we CAN eat. I love when my annoyed friends say “well what CAN you eat” and I say “fruit, vegetables, chicken, meat and fish” and that shuts them right up. What can you say to that?

 

Meadow our amazing inspire-er, congrats on a 100% compliant Whole90. You are incredible and we can all look to you as an example of how to do it right. Peeps, she posts that shizz because its real and it works, so pay attention.

 

Outdorsgrl I can look out for AIP low FODMAP where possible on the IODs as well. 

 

Nanny D, sounding good, enjoy the bday celebrations.

 

Anyone I missed, we are rocking and rolling through this! Keep up the great work. 

 

Thank you everyone for all the beautiful and inspiring quotes! Keep ‘em coming!

I love this  “you can make it just about food but it’s really about you. Me. Us. And life”

 

Speaking of food, I am sooooo out of food and am resorting to some fish I found in the freezer for breakfast! Shared with Le Grand Orange (cat) like a true crazy cat lady. Had broccolini last night so am ahead of the IOD game!  Because speaking of broccs, STAYED TUNED FOR RECIPES FOR TOMORROW’S IOD – THE BROCCOLI FAMILY!

 

Have a great day everyone. 

[drtracyb]

Yes I was in with the 5/5ers.  I think I did not finish, for some reason.  I've been tagging along groups all year but successfully finished September and January.

 

But I will successfully finish a whole30 with this group - I can see how special you are.

 

My QOD, or quote for life (as listed above):

 

"Stop holding onto people who keep letting go of you.  Pay attention to the faithful people.  The ones you don't have to impress.  The ones who always have your back.  The ones that love you with no strings attached!"

[CCLaymon]

SO much good stuff here!  I should be working, but Rick is taking a nap so I'm not even going to feel guilty about it.

Rick and I did a 45 min bike today followed by a 45 min run. I'm trying to give him all my good tips for his upcoming tri!  Mine is on September 20th, which is day 30 for us here, and will be my Whole 105. And then I'm going to try to live in the real world a bit.

Rick's tri is October 12th. In Delaware. In the ocean! I'm a little worried about the temps but everyone says that's the best time of year for ocean swimming.

 

We are planning absolutely nothing for this weekend outside of some scheduling and planning. Kai and Sam are having a great time, doing very little. Went to the arcade today, sitting on the balcony and drawing now. They are two peas in a pod

 

I'm loving the book recommendations. While my one word for this year is NOURISH, and I'm making great strides there, two other themes have emerged for me: happiness and simplicity/focus.  Earlier this year I read the Happiness Project so I'm intrigued to read 10% Happier. I shared here previously that my favorite so far this year is "Essentialism" which is about getting rid of the unimportant things so you can really focus on the good stuff. I'm also reading "Simplify" right now, which I am really loving. It's churchy, so if that's not your thing, you've been warned. But it's awesome. Really. And I have another book coming up later in the year "The Best Yes" which I think will be on the same topic. (Also churchy.)

 

I talked with Rick about going out to dinner, but I find my reluctant. It's a lot of work to cook at home, and we'd like a break. But by the time you follow all the rules when you're out, it just never tastes as good as home. Plus, where we live at the lake, it's mostly about vacationing and partying, so compliant food is hard to find. That is all for now! 

 

Happy Labor Day Weekend! And for anyone who is wavering, a bunch of us made it through July 4th weekend with flying colors - we're living proof it can be done!

[Twinmommykat]

Going forward, I find I am much more focused on what I CAN eat rather than what I choose to abstain from. That's a huge important difference for me: abundance rather than scarcity; hope rather than despair; fun rather than grim; and healthy rather than sick and suffering. Yes, "it starts with food," and then I keep going.

a.

Beautifully put, Ann. Congratulations on your achievement!

[Deb.]

Our IOD TOMORROW is BROCCOLI!!!

 

There are three commonly grown types of broccoli. The most familiar is Calabrese broccoli, often referred to simply as "broccoli", named after Calabria in Italy. Sprouting broccoli has a larger number of heads with many thin stalks. Purple cauliflower is a type of broccoli sold in southern Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It has a head shaped like cauliflower, but consisting of tiny flower buds. It sometimes, but not always, has a purple cast to the tips of the flower buds.

Other relatives include cabbage (Capitata Group), cauliflower and Romanesco broccoli (Botrytis Group), kale and collard greens (Acephala Group), kohlrabi (Gongylodes Group), Brussels sprouts (Gemmifera Group),and Chinese broccoli (Alboglabra Group). Rapini, sometimes called "broccoli rabe" among other names, forms similar but smaller heads, and is actually a type of turnip (Brassica rapa). Broccolini or "Tenderstem broccoli" is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli.  WHO KNEW!!  For today we will focus on recipe that have the word "broccoli" in their title! 

 

As you all know, broccoli is super duper good for you: -  high in vitamin C and dietary fiber. It also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as diindolylmethane and small amounts of selenium. A single serving provides more than 30 mg of vitamin C and a half-cup provides 52 mg of vitamin C. The 3,3'-Diindolylmethane found in broccoli is a potent modulator of the innate immune response system with anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity. Broccoli also contains the compound glucoraphanin, which can be processed into an anti-cancer compound sulforaphane, though the anti-cancer benefits of broccoli are greatly reduced if the vegetable is boiled. Broccoli is also an excellent source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.

 

Now I'm sure that's more than you ever wanted to know about the B word! 

 

Here's the recipe round up:

 

Roasted Broccoli with Crispy Prosciutto and Balsamic

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/10269462281/roasted-broccoli-with-crispy-prosciutto-balsamic

 

Stir Fried Shiitake and Broccoli Slaw (sub ghee)

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/2106747666/stir-fried-shiitake-and-broccoli-slaw

 

Sweet and Salty Broccoli Salad

http://theclothesmakethegirl.com/2010/12/13/suddenly-im-in-the-mood-for-broccoli/

 

Warm Broccoli and Carrot Slaw

http://paleoleap.com/warm-broccoli-and-carrot-slaw/

 

Garlic Roasted Broccoli

http://paleogrubs.com/roasted-broccoli-recipe

 

Bacon,  Grape and Broccoli Salad

http://paleoleap.com/bacon-grape-broccoli-salad/

 

Creamy Broccoli Casserole (use the dates)

http://purelytwins.com/2013/12/06/creamy-broccoli-casserole-vegan-paleo/

 

Beef with Broccoli

http://www.primalpalate.com/paleo-recipe/beef-with-broccoli/

 

Cream of Broccoli Soup

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1871719

 

10 ways to dress up your broccoli from Melissa Joulwan

http://theclothesmakethegirl.com/2012/11/13/tuesday-10-dress-up-broccoli/

 

Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/paleo-broccoli-rabe-and-sausage/

 

Salmon with Broccolini (omit the honey)

http://againstallgrain.com/2013/04/21/asian-glazed-salmon-with-roasted-broccolini-and-asparagus/

 

Sauteed Broccolini (sub ghee)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sauteed-broccolini-recipe.html

 

Steamed Broccolini with Lemon

http://paleobetty.com/2011/07/23/steamed-broccolini-with-lemon/

 

Bacon and Broccolini Frittata

http://paleoforkids.com.au/recipe/bacon-and-broccolini-frittata/

 

Slow Cooked Broccoli Rabe

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cime-di-Rapa-Fritte

 

Shrimp Scampi and Broccolini (sub ghee)

http://www.drjjgregor.com/2013/08/16/paleo-meal-shrimp-scampi/#sthash.vWn8Dvx1.dpbs

 

Bacon Chicken and Broccoli Rabe

http://relishscd.blogspot.com/2013/10/bacon-chicken-and-broccoli-rabe-rapini.html

 

Sauteed Shiitake and Broccoli Rabe with Fried Egg

http://lovethyhealthcompany.com/sauteed-shiitake-broccoli-rabe-fried-egg-paleo-vegetarian-friendly/

 

Breakfast Casserole with Broccoli Rabe

http://www.everydaymaven.com/2013/paleo-breakfast-casserole-with-broccoli-rabe-chicken-sausage-shallots/

 

AIP

Broccolini with Garlic Chips and Coconut Pesto

http://autoimmune-paleo.com/broccolini-with-garlic-chips-and-coconut-pesto/

 

Cream of Broccoli Soup

http://autoimmune-paleo.com/cream-of-broccoli-soup/

 

(Broccoli is high FODMAP sorry outdorsgrl)

 

ENJOY!

[higs]

Deb, your IODs are getting more and more amazing.  You put SO MUCH ENERGY into tracking down these recipes.  Thank you, thank you!

[MeadowLily]

Deb, your IODs are getting more and more amazing.  You put SO MUCH ENERGY into tracking down these recipes.  Thank you, thank you!

I would like to have all of these broccoli dishes for a party...all on one buffet table   Wouldn't that be fun to see your family show up and have a long table of broccoli dishes?  Dig in folks.  

[Deb.]

Bless you Higs and Meadow, just when I was feeling guilty for loving some ingredients more than others! LOL. 

Some are easier than others but its always fun, and inspiring! 

[MeadowLily]

Bless you Higs and Meadow, just when I was feeling guilty for loving some ingredients more than others! LOL. 

Some are easier than others but its always fun, and inspiring! 

Broccoli, mushrooms, lemons, limes...what's not to love.   I mean really, really enjoy.  

Our palates  are changing.

[Laurie]

Deb - I love your IOD.   I continue to participate in the IOD in my very simple way:  mushrooms - wash them and pop them in my mouth.  You add a very special touch to the Whole 30.  Your commitment to all of us is greatly appreciated.

 

CC - I purchased the audio book and downloaded but have not listened to any of it.  That's me - these days.  I really need to listen to at least 20 minutes a day.  I am curious about your training - when did you start - was it when you started the Whole 30 or have you been training for a long time. 

 

Dawner - I'd also love to know more about your training.  When you started, what type of training did you begin with?

 

I'm curious about the training because I want to change my exercise.  I am most interested in running - walk/run training.  I used to have a goal of running a half marathon by the time I'm 50.  Well, I am almost 51 so that will never happen.  No big deal.  Half marathon may be too much for me - well, I could work up to it.  However, I may have an issue with feeling claustrophobic with so many people at the beginning of the race.  I would feel like a crowded sardine amongst too many other sardines.

 

Jump4Life - I believe you are our newest passenger.  Sending you warm welcome wishes.

 

The quote " you can make it just about food but it's really about you. Me. Us and life" - describes the inner workings of our amazing group.  We don't just focus on food. We peel the layers, we express, we share and we get to the inner thoughts/feelings of what drives each one of us.  If we only concentrate on  the basic principles of the W30, we could not make permanent lifestyles changes. 

[Laurie]

My mom and I saw Steve yesterday.   Steve looks terrible - very sick,   He is wasting away; Steve lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks and he does not have weight to spare.  He still can't eat and has no appetite.  Steve had his head shaved which was a positive decision for him. It gave him a sense of control - making the decision to get rid of the hair vs. letting the effects of chemo take his hair.  It was falling out anyway.  Steve had his hair cut short before he entered the hospital so this was the next step. His spirits are also very low which concerns me - depression.  I love him and will support him to the best of my ability so I need to find ways to handle my own depression and demons. My heart crumbles more and more each time I see him; my heart is like mixed up puzzle pieces.  The positive is that his blood levels keep improving but all the negatives are breaking my soul.  The stem cell process sucks but I must remember it will give Steve a second chance at life.

[qbattle]

HI!  I've been reading some of the posts and responding just a little, but I wanted to jump in.  I started the Whole 30 a couple days before y'all did.  I tried it a month ago and made it to Day 13. I am working through some really stressful relationship dynamics - they flared last attempt on about Day 10, and I made it to Day 13 before caving into sweets. I didn't realize I had such emotional eating tendencies.  I signed up for the daily e-mails and started reading the forums to help this go around.

 

So this go around, again on Day 10!, I again had a stressful relationship dynamic flare up.  It's now 2 days later, and I keep thinking about how great some brownies would be.  I took the advice of one of the Whole 30 e-mails and jumped on here to tell someone.  I stopped in the middle of writing this to journal and to pray I'd have the strength and courage to face the situation instead of turning to brownies!   So far I think it's helping.  Tomorrow is the day I caved last time - I am grateful for the clarity in how I have been handling stress and pray for the continued clarity to handle stressful situations by dealing with the stressful situation and not by alleviating stress (or at least temporarily seeming to alleviate it!) with something chocolate-y sweet.

 

To remind myself what is going well and why I should continue strong:

 - Workouts are stronger.  I've been setting new personal bests.

 - I am happier.  I enjoy life more.

 - I have more energy.  I am making it to the end of the day stronger.

 - My daughter is sleeping better! (Breastfed infant - I totally think there has been a correlation between how much processed food I eat and how well she sleeps)

 - I handle stress better.

 - I have greater discernment about my emotions and greater ability to deal with them - both clarity about them and energy to deal with them (do I sound like some kind of nut? : )) 

 - I have greater mental acuity.

 - I feel free.

 - I love creative victories, like when I start to think, "I don't know what to eat!" and then come up with something delicious and fun.  There are always fun, creative options!  Just gotta be willing to put in the effort.

 - I'd like to cross Whole 30 off my bucket list, and I can do it!  As the authors say, it's not 'hard'!  It just takes a series of good choices.

 - I love how my digestive system feels and is working!

 - I can achieve this, and despite what the little 'bad angel on one shoulder' says, it does matter, it is important, and it is worthwhile.

 - I've had some victories, and I get to have some more.  For example, last night I was out of almond butter, and I thought, "A little all-natural peanut butter can't be that bad!"  But then I decided if I let myself have that one cheat, what will that lead to?  That's what happened last time - I let myself have 100% dark chocolate (Whole 30 approved), but I ate it as chocolate (not compliant with the eating philosophy), and that tipped me over the edge (or more accurately, I let it tip me over the edge).  I have had some victories, made some good decisions, feel great, and will have more victories. I think jumping on the forum to share this is a victory, too.  Good choice.  And much more satisfying.

 

Thanks!  I feel better already : )

[Laurie]

Hi Win - win for winner!  You are a winner for joining the best W30 group and for being YOU.  Congrats for talking about your feelings instead of stuffing the feelings with noncompliant foods.  Great list of why you should continue.  I think most of us begin the W30 to improve our relationship with food but shortly afterwards we have other goals to strive for - like improving our relationship with ourselves which will help us in our relationship with others.

[CCLaymon]

Laurie - I am so sorry Steve is going through this. Does he have the energy to listen to an audio book? Maybe something uplifting and inspirational? And, you! Please take good care to nourish yourself in this difficult time. Virtual hugs to you!

Win - great job jumping on here. Here's the fact. You've already made it through the hardest part of the program! Do not derail yourself with the on/off thing and be in a constant state of starting over (purgatory). If you have come this far, you can do it. What an amazing list of improvements. I think you should print it off and put it in your pocket for constant reference. Please keep leaning on us. It gets easier, not harder. Have you read the timeline? I thought it was interesting that there are little places a long the way that we really want to give up. Knowing what to expect really helped me: Whole 30 Timeline

 

Laurie - you asked about my training.  I just got back on board last year after about a 14 year hiatus. Note: Sam is 14. See the correlation?  Rick had major surgery last year and had about a foot of his colon removed. (I'm sure he'll love my sharing that.)  I knew I couldn't just sit around all day while he slept, so I pulled out my bike (which I hadn't rode in 20 years).  As Rick recovered he started riding, too, and REALLY loved it.  I aslo started  Couch to 5K program because some friends wanted to do a mud run. (that was fun, but a one time experience for me)  So I was already biking and starting to run again and remembered how much I loved a triathlon. Swimming is my strong sport, so it didn't add any stress to the mix.  I did a sprint tri last September and really enjoyed it. Then my friend convinced me to do a half marathon in April, which I didn't want to do. But I was doing it for her. And then about 8 weeks before the race she bailed on me. I'm a finisher, so I went ahead did it. I've mentioned before that I was 50# overweight. It was a battle. Why? YOU CAN'T OUT EXERCISE BAD EATING HABITS!! That's why I agreed to do the Whole 30. I knew if I wanted to do these races, even though it's for fun and I'm only competing against myself, I had to make some significant food changes.

 

Probably more than you wanted to know there!!

[CCLaymon]

I mentioned before for the new folks that I would post my story from my first 30 days of Whole 30. Here you go!

 

This is what my life used to be like.

 

For most of my life I’ve struggled with disordered eating.  At times that included bulimia, starving myself, over exercising and diet pills. Always, it included guilt and shame because I couldn’t control this one part of my life. Suffice it to say that I have been on every diet ever imagined. Ever.

 

Over the last 5 years I gained 50 pounds, and I really felt there was no end in sight. While I was so happy in every other aspect of my life, my eating and my body image were making me miserable. I knew something had to change, but I just didn’t know what to do. And, I really didn’t have the gumption for even one more punishing diet.

 

In January I chose my “One Word” for the year to be NOURISH.  I did not know how my life would change over the year, but it was my greatest desire to find peace with food.

 

This is how I found the Whole30.

 

I’m in a small exercise accountability group on Facebook, and one of the gals started doing Whole30. Each day she would post her successes. I knew a little about Paleo, and I thought this was one crazy chick!  But I could not ignore how great she was feeling.

 

I told my husband a little about the program (as in, isn’t that crazy?) and he really wanted to do it. And wouldn’t let up about it. So, while I did not want to do it and wasn’t really mentally prepared to do it, I said I would. I’m a pretty competitive person, so once I agreed, I was in.

 

During my Whole30 experience…

 

I was surprised that I did not have any major struggles. This is what probably made it easiest for me to stay on track. I did not have raging headaches or other withdrawal symptoms, even though I was eating Oreos by the handful the day before I started.  One of the biggest reasons I hesitated to do the program was because I didn’t want to deal with the detox. Luckily for both my husband and I, our withdrawal symptoms were minor and by day 10 we were both feeling better than we had in a long time.  During the second half of our Whole 30 we went on a four day vacation, packed appropriate snacks, ate out 3 times a day (compliantly) and biked 30 miles a day. A very different experience for us, indeed!

 

Now that I’ve finished my Whole30…

·         While following this food plan does take a lot of time in planning and preparing food, I also gained a lot of time in other areas. I’ve been addicted to Diet Coke for about 30 years. When I would run out, it would be a tragedy, and I had to find some fast! It was really a burden and took more attention than I could have imagined. I have replaced an unhealthy obsession with a healthy one!

·         My dry skin has improved.

·         For about 15 years I’ve had a skin condition on my hands called dyshidrosis. I can manage it with prescription creams, but it’s very uncomfortable. That has resolved completely.

·         I don’t weigh and measure my food. I’m learning how to listen to my body in terms of what and how much it needs to thrive.

·         I started cooking for the first time in my life, and found out that I actually enjoy it.

·         My very biggest change in this program is that my mental obsession with food has been lifted. That is the most amazing change I could ask for.

 

What went well:

·         I decided if I was going to do this, I was all in. I did not try and create work-arounds for any of the rules. This actually made it easier for me to make decisions in difficult situations.

·         I bought the Nom Nom Paleo cookbook a day or two before we started the program. This gave me a lot of good recipes to experiment with. I never really cooked before, so a reward of the program was eating food that was delicious.

·         Doing the program with my husband made my life infinitely easier, especially when we were eating out. I really felt like we were in it together.

·         I signed up for the daily Whole30 email. Each morning it was motivating for me to read something inspirational and remind me that I was making a healthy choice. At the end of the day I would go back to the email and hit the “I did it!” link for a little extra encouragement.

·         I participated daily in the Whole30 Forums. I attribute this as one of the best choices I could have made. Even though my husband and I were doing this together, I think we could have talked each other into some questionable choices along the way (a little bit of this won’t hurt, right?)  Having accountability to our group really reinforced my resolve.

·         One of our group members chose and “ingredient of the day” each day, and posted multiple recipes. While I rarely hit the ingredients on the right days, I had a place to go back to reference recipes when I was ready.

·         There are certain foods that are allowed, but that are trigger foods for me. I chose not to eat those so I would not sabotage my efforts. I did not eat Lara Bars even though they are allowed, because I was afraid it would feel like dessert.

·         I did not step on the scale or take measurements. Not. Even. Once.

 

What could have gone better:

·         I would not plan to eat at a friend’s house while on the plan. I learned how to cook at home and even to eat in restaurants. But the rules are really too tight to impose on someone else. It made me too uncomfortable.

·         I would have read ISWF before starting the program so I had better idea of what was in or what was out. Around day 4 I bought the book because I wasn’t feeling sure about reading labels. I read it in about 2 days and then felt more solid about my choices.

·         There were times, and I will admit not many, that we really did not plan well by bringing snacks.

 

What you’ll do the next time:

·         Toward the end of the 30 days, I bought the Well Fed Cookbook. The section on how to plan ahead and do a “weekly cookup” will really help me going forward.

·         I will continue on the Whole 30. I know that after many years of crazy eating, I cannot say my new habits are a lifestyle yet.

 

Inches lost: 9

Pounds lost: 13