daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hello whole30-ers! By way of introduction, I'm new to the whole30, although have tried something fairly similar back in February after reading Robb Wolf's 'Paleo Solution'. Tried to keep up the good work, but started sort of slipping... sometimes in quite a (disgustingly) drastic way! Anyway, after a particularly drunken and cake-fuelled weekend wedding, I finally admitted to myself that the only way to get that party-wrecker (sugar) out of my life for good (not to mention the extra 10lbs that don't really need to be hanging around any more) was to take on the 'challenge' and sign up for the whole30 to get me back on track. Unfortunately there was no question of my husband keeping me company, so in a bid to hold myself accountable to this whole30 thing, I have signed up to the forum, and started writing about it in a blog (see link below). I'm pretty much doing everything I can think of to try to make this actually actually last, as I'm prone to doing things on a whim (...and not always seeing them through - not a great personality trait!). I have been so impressed with the level of support everyone here seems to give each other, so am just hoping that I can draw on this (and obviously offer some myself, if I actually have anything useful to offer... maybe tips on living 'paleo' in Bristol, UK?!) Any advice gratefully received. Actually, any comment at all gratefully received (I'm not fussy) just so I know that I have 'officially' put it out there that I've committed to this ridiculous thing... I mean, 30 days without cheese? Or booze? Tough times ahead, but clearly many people have managed it, so hats off to them - and fingers crossed I can join the club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Kosowan Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Welcome! I am on day 20 and so far it has been a nice glass of wine that I miss more than the cheese. If you had asked me at the beginning I would have said I would probably miss cheese more. I usually don't drink any booze for all of January and most of February to kick start every new year and for some reason this time seems harder. Just know that the support on this forum is amazing and you can always turn to us for support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Yay, thanks! Yes, in truth, I suspect wine will be more of a problem - more due to the social 'norm' of having a couple of glasses on a night out, as well as the fact it's just pretty tasty stuff. I was thinking about this the other day - not sure I've ever actually managed to last more than about a week or two without having at least one small glass of wine (that makes me sound like a have a problem... I don't think I do ;-) ...) so if nothing else this will be a nice way of proving to myself I can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SummerGirl Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Welcome Daisydaisy! Best of luck- hope your Whole30 goes well for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Thanks! I'm not sure whether there's a point at which it feels like it's definitely do-able (day 20, Renee?!) but will take it day by day... so far 1 day complete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatork Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 looking forward to reading your blog updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SummerGirl Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Thanks! I'm not sure whether there's a point at which it feels like it's definitely do-able (day 20, Renee?!) but will take it day by day... so far 1 day complete! After about 6 days I felt it got much easier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 That's good to know - 6 days is definitely within sight! Does anyone have any tips on how to handle socialising without having the odd drink or two? I know it sounds a bit pathetic (and I've seen plenty of pregnant friends manage - but they have a legitimate excuse!), but I genuinely think that could be the hardest thing due to social pressure! The rest of it (the food choices) seem much more within my control, although I guess I did still find it difficult when friends offered to cook. May just avoid that situation for 30 days! In some ways, doing a 'whole30' to kickstart the healthier lifestyle gives some form of 'excuse' (i.e. from what I've gathered, people seem more open to the idea of a 30 day detox and don't ask too many questions... it's when it becomes a longer term thing that they get bothered!) Has anyone else had issues with social/peer pressure rather than cravings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lyon Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I've started my whole 30 today too. I've been following a mostly paleo lifestyle since the beginning of the year with frequent slips. After reading it starts with food I'm sure I need a 30 day reset to really kick things into gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi David! Safety in numbers - now there's at least 2 of us that have started today, we need to stick it out! Let me know if you are having a wobble and I'll try to persuade you otherwise, and then I'll do the same to you (if that's ok with you?!) I read the book too and realised I needed to stop making so many excuses, as it's all too easy... I'm hoping for some kind of "reset" too (and maybe a small miracle?!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Kosowan Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 When I am out for drinks I simply order a big glass of water and a couple sides of lemon or lime to make it look fancier. Some people order sparkling water and it makes them feel like they are drinking something fancy. To be honest I found my friends are ok with me doing this. They have come to expect I am on some sort of weird diet more often than not so now they just don't really think about it. I'm sure that probably doesn't help you but if you wanted to use a detox as an easier way to explain it then go ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 To be honest I found my friends are ok with me doing this. They have come to expect I am on some sort of weird diet more often than not so now they just don't really think about it. Yes! - I think my friends are coming to the same realisation - so hopefully that means a level of tolerance this time around!! Some I guess I won't win over, but I should probably stop worrying about it! Sparkling water it is then... can't wait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Kosowan Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Good idea... don't worry about it as currently it is not a problem. Go and have fun and if they make it a problem maybe you can just avoid those people for the remainder of the 30 days. Or if you think certain people will be difficult maybe suggest a movie instead of drinks out and they won't know you are munching on raw peppers and water instead of popcorn and pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalmom Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Hi daisy, I started on August 20 and I'm right there with you. It's been fairly easy to stick to so far since I've been following a mostly paleo diet since mid June. I already made it through the tough part of saying goodbye to grains, dairy, and sugar a few months back. I found myself starting to fall off here and there and was worried it would be yet another program fallen by the wayside so I decided to make a new commitment with the Whole30. Today is day 6. On Thursday night and last night we attended end of the summer dinner gatherings with lots of friends. My biggest fear was the wine thing. I love to enjoy a few glasses with this particular group of friends. First thing I did was eat before I got there so I wasn't hungry. And second, I brought some club soda and fresh lime to create my cocktail. It's surprisingly good and refreshing. Club soda on ice with a whole lime squeezed in. Love it and it totally did the trick. I've survived two nights in a row. I'd love to stay in touch with you as we go and keep eachother on track. Keep up the great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithb63 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi daisydaisy! Welcome aboard. I just saw your thread and enjoyed reading it. I love your honesty. You will definitely find support here and it helps so much during the tough moments. I am on day 35 of 40. We decided to extend our Whole 30 and joined the August group. The Whole 30 has brought so many positive changes to my life - both physically and mentally in many ways. There were a few tough days and moments but nothing too bad. Everyone is different but with the help of everyone here you will do fine. I am with everyone else and go with the sparkling water it is nice to have the little bit of bubbly! Hang in there and welcome! Faith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Hills Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Just saying a quick hello - I'm on day one here but noticed you are also in the UK (I'm in London) Sitting here at the end of the first day with a terrible headache and seriously contemplating going to bed already - most odd! You sound like you're doing really well so far, I am so with you re. alcohol feeling like the hardest thing to kick - I find it next to impossible to say no to it so the next few weeks will be interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aberrantatavia Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi Daisy, I'll echo your horrified thoughts on the lack of booze and cheese. But I'm on day 16, and I haven't caved. Now, I WANT a glass of wine, or something, but I haven't succumbed. I even went out to a bar last night, which was a first date (and the last, booze wouldn't have made it any better) and I warned him ahead of the that I wasn't drinking, he said fine. We were only supposed to meet for a drink so I didn't worry about the food part. I had a club soda with lime and only had a passing " yes please" thought when the bartender mentioned the margarita special. I'm in an ok boat with my friends, they are pretty supportive and expect me to be weird and crazy ("who drinks spinach juice, you freakin weirdo!") and wouldn't sabotage me. As a matter of fact, since I keep my house fairly well stocked of food, they get excited when I cut something out because I start giving things away. Lol so they come grocery shopping here Kombucha has helped with the lack of wine, it's refreshing and good for the gut. Nothing has helped with the lack of cheese, but I don't crave it like I did. As a matter of fact, there are very few cheeses I'd consider eating ever again. I don't know that I will go back to any dairy, except maybe some raw heavy cream for my coffee. Good luck, hang in there, and remember, you want to do this for yourself, and it's only 30 days. In the end, you will be able to make better decisions as to what is good for your body because you will have become more aware of what foods effect you and how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homerfrizzell Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hello, everyone. Today is my day 0. Wine is going to be the toughest part for me, too - I'll try working in some kombucha. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Hills Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Looks like wine is the killer for quite a few of us My wine-loving mother has just arrived to stay for a few days - am determined to stick it out though....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hi, thanks for the replies. Been away from the internet for a food/drink based weekend, which as you can imagine was quite tough - but I DID IT!! I'm so pleased that I managed to survive a whole weekend of basically a massive bake-off with cakes galore, not to mention all the home-brewed cider and wine (although that was quite easy to give a miss, given that it all smelled like blue cheese...) It's funny how you start to realise the 'triggers' for wanting certain foods/drinks. I surprisingly found the party relatively easy to handle drink-free, once I'd told everyone I wasn't drinking and stuck to the soda water. As everyone else was drinking over a long period of time, and it was a pleasant sunny afternoon, it didn't feel too odd to be drinking water. The food was the real killer as it looked and smelled absolutely divine, and the sort of thing I'd totally normally make a bee-line for. The hardest thing was that it was there all day and all evening, just for 'picking' at (as everyone else did), so I didn't have to say 'no' just once, but over and over and over again... I feel like my willpower stores have been totally depleted. The next evening, when food wasn't around to tempt me, I was with my husband in our camper and it was a lovely sunny evening in Wales (they're pretty rare), and I found myself craving a glass of red wine, which is exactly what I would normally be enjoying under those circumstances. I distracted myself by making us go for a long walk to the local pub after dinner - which sounds like an odd diversion, but it worked. I happily then drank a pint of (more) soda whilst husband had a beer, before coming home. With my willpower well and truly diminished, we were invited out for pizza this evening to a local place that has an amazing reputation. In the end I had to say to my husband for him to go alone - I just couldn't face sitting in there with the amazing smells coming from the kitchen, then watching everyone else tucking in (let alone the drinking), so came back home and ATE A LOT (of whole30 compliant food... of course). Feel like with reducing willpower comes increasing obsession with food. Even though I'm happy to eat whole30 compliant food, it seems like I can't eat enough today. Anyone else having this? Sorry - very long post... Socalmom - hi, thanks for your message. Sounds like you're getting through this relatively unscathed so far, so congrats! I though I'd 'gone paleo' prior to this, but realising now that although I didn't have any stomach cramps etc like last time, I'm still not exactly getting away with this lightly - definitely hadn't given up sugar prior to recommitting to whole30!! Are you noticing any beneficial side effects yet? Hi Faith - amazing, day 35!! What prompted you to continue past 30 days - were you already planning on doing that, or did you hit day 30 and think you wanted to go on a bit longer? Thanks for the motivation to keep going... I do know it's worth it, but so easy to forget sometimes! Charlotte - Thanks for your message and good to see another UK whole30-er! Good luck with the visit from your Mum - if she's anything like mine, she'll mean well but be 'concerned' that you're doing a crazy diet (especially if you lose weight), my Mum's favourite saying is "everything in moderation", but I beg to differ, when the "everything" I'm craving right now is deep fried/packed full of sugar (even though I don't normally eat that much of that kind of thing!) Hopefully once you've said "no", that will do. She'll possibly miss a drinking buddy, but be strong and stick with it, it gets easier to say no once you've done it once or twice - especially to the same person as they're already expecting it, but just chancing it that you might change your mind (esp with the offer of a particularly delicious red wine to accompany some food...) Aberrantavia - I haven't come across kombucha (not sure you can get it in the uk?) but will google it and see what I find! So far have been sticking to herbal teas (a yogi tea in liquorice is my current favourite) or the classic soda water when out. Brave doing a date with no drink to bolster the nerves, so congrats! Good luck, hang in there, and remember, you want to do this for yourself, and it's only 30 days. In the end, you will be able to make better decisions as to what is good for your body because you will have become more aware of what foods effect you and how. So true - that is why I'm doing this. The weekend of resisting non whole30 foods has given me confidence - and also the motivation to continue, for if I 'sacrificed' one weekend of eating/drinking everything put in front of me, then I'm bloody well not going to crack now and make that all for nothing (I hope!) Homerfrizzell - welcome on board, just keep trying various drinks like herbal teas until you find something that keeps you happy! Good luck with the next 30 days, let us know how you get on... Thanks all for the messages, it really really does help! So nice to know that there are plenty of people going through the same thing - and it is only 30 days after all... (unless I extend it, like the sadist I am...)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derval Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Well done Daisy on enjoying the weekend without messing up your w30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lyon Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hi David! Safety in numbers - now there's at least 2 of us that have started today, we need to stick it out! Let me know if you are having a wobble and I'll try to persuade you otherwise, and then I'll do the same to you (if that's ok with you?!) I read the book too and realised I needed to stop making so many excuses, as it's all too easy... I'm hoping for some kind of "reset" too (and maybe a small miracle?!) Hi Daisy, I hope your whole 30 is going well. I've had some internet issues, well no access for the last week. I'm doing well on my journey, i wouldnt even say i've wobbled yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homerfrizzell Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Thank you. I eased into it last night and found substituting a little kombucha for wine worked fine. I've also heard good things about coconut milk kefir so will give that a whirl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisydaisy Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 Thanks Derval. David - keep going strong, sounds like you're doing well already. I certainly find that with each day that passes it gets easier - not because I feel that amazing, but because it gives me confidence I can and also when you get so far through it, it seems silly to 'waste' it all on a whim! So no wobbles so far Homerfrizzell - kombucha and coconut kefir - now 2 things to add to my list of "never heard of, but crop up all the time on whole30 so better give it a try" - coconut butter previously fell on that list, and I'm so glad I discovered that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lyon Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Have you been able to find coconut butter in the uk? Where did you find it? How is your Whoel 30 going? I could be adding more veg to my meals and i'm working on that. Tried making noodles from courgette last night, were surprisingly good for breakfast this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.