Contessa Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I'm making my way into the new year with those few extra pounds that seem to always find me at the end of the year. Today is the start of my office's 60-day "Biggest Loser" weight loss challenge. Being a true W30 aficionado, I don't give a hoot what the number on the scale says, but I went ahead and signed up for the challenge. I will enjoy the group camaraderie while I once again boot sugar, alcohol, dairy, and grains to the curb. Eating got pretty hard over the summer when I started dating someone whose eating habits were the exact opposite of mine. J. was a vegetarian, a pasta hound and someone who never met a pastry he didn't like. Whew. I want this to be a modified Whole 30 because I am traveling a lot more for work now and I know I have multiple overnight business trips in Jan/Feb on which I will need to make my own way. There's also a special event in late January at which I may choose to have a glass of wine. My goal is to just stay sane, make the best choice possible in the moment, and not obsess. Honestly: going 60 days without using sugar as a coping mechanism is my big overarching goal. Every time I get off sugar, it gets easier to get off sugar, and I feel happier about getting off sugar. I'm excited about stretching the commitment out longer this time. Without further ado: - - - - - - Day 1 (01/05/15) Breakfast: egg/sausage/potato hash; herbal tea Snack: raw sunflower seeds Lunch: Preppy Paleo's butternut squash soup (love this recipe!) + crumbled ground beef Snack: A few 'go raw' Lemon Super Cookies, about a tablespoon of almond butter Dinner: Turkey meatballs + sweet potato mash + ghee No cravings yet, but I suppose they're coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 Day 2 (01/06/15) Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, a heap of julienned kale; herbal tea Lunch: butternut squash soup + crumbled ground beef Snack: sunflower seeds Dinner: Turkey meatballs + sweet potato mash + a bit of mustard I forget sometimes how good it feels to eat really simply! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Day 3 (01/07/15) Is this the most boring food log in the world? Yes, it probably is! And yet I feel like it helps me, a lot, to write stuff down here. Breakfast: egg/sausage/potato hash Lunch: butternut squash soup + crumbled ground beef Snack: carrot slices + herbal tea Dinner: big bowl of chili Felt really energetic today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Day 4 (01/08/15) Breakfast: egg/sausage/potato hash, herbal tea Lunch: mashed cauliflower + turkey burger + spicy mustard Dinner: Crock-pot pulled chicken + sauteed kale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Day 5 (01/09/15) Breakfast: egg/sausage/potato hash, herbal tea Snack: carrot slices, Go Raw lemon cookies with almond butter (breakfast was not big enough) Lunch: mashed cauliflower + turkey meatballs Dinner: butternut squash soup + crock pot seasoned chicken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Day 6 (01/10/15) Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sauteed kale, bacon Lunch: sweet potatoes + crock pot seasoned chicken Snack: "gingersnap" cookies (fully compliant and not very cookie-like) Dinner: mashed cauliflower + crock pot seasoned chicken The cravings are getting rumbling. They are very much mental cravings. Like thinking about an ex-boyfriend. "Hmmm, I wonder what sugar is up to right now. I wonder if it's thinking about me. I really miss it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 Day 7 (01/11/15) Pre-WO snack: sweet potatoes, a few almonds Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage, roasted potatoes, black coffee (This was my first time going out to eat since my eating plan began. I steered clear of the entrees with dairy and grains. Even avoided ordering an omelette plate, because it came with a biscuit.) Lunch/dinner: scramble with roasted sweet potato, kale, eggs, roasted chicken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 Day 8 (01/12/15) Today feels like a day when it's getting gnarly. I woke up feeling cranky. My COO made a joke about how every employee who takes a sick day should be required to produce a doctor's note. I wanted to deck him. I forgot to bring my breakfast to work, and I hope I didn't leave it on the counter (because it was going to be tasty). So.... I just had half of my lunch for breakfast. Breakfast: Mashed cauliflower + roasted chicken Lunch: Mashed cauliflower + roasted chicken Snack: carrot slices + almond butter Dinner: Scramble with roasted sweet potato, kale, eggs, roasted chicken (thank goodness I left it in the fridge!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Day 9 (01/13/15) This was a travel day for me, and it was a partial food fail. Client trips are really tough — these are situations where I really do not have a choice about what to eat. So on these trips, I'm just putting the offender food groups into hierarchies. I'm not going to be able to control the oil used in the preparation of the food. Dairy is not super terrible for me. Alcohol is easy for me to turn down. Grains start to encroach on clear no-no territory. And sugar is the top of my personal hazard list. Breakfast: Hash with eggs, chicken, bacon, sweet potato, kale Lunch: Chick-fil-A at the airport (no bread).... this was a very stressful morning, packing and then going to the airport and then sitting in on a conference call while at the airport and then racing to the terminal and getting on the plane Dinner: My boss insisted on taking us out to PIZZA. The least friendly Whole 30 food out there, perhaps. I did not have a choice here. In the plus column, the pizza was incredibly fresh and light — sort of the opposite of the typical North American gut-bomb. I ate only two slices, which I enjoyed. I turned away wine and dessert, and was razzed for doing so. I'm counting it as part fail and part success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Day 10 (01/14/15) Another travel day. It was less of a fail than yesterday. Breakfast: Even though there was a bagel shop in the lobby of my hotel, or perhaps because there was a bagel shop in the lobby of my hotel, I ordered room service.... scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns. Lunch: This was client-provided and I managed to make it fairly OK. We had about five minutes to eat and dash before I had to go to the airport. Green salad with raisins and vinaigrette + roast beef sandwich (no bread). When I got to the airport, I bought trail mix which contained a lot of nuts and raisins but was definitely not W30-approved. I was very hungry. Did manage to turn away those delicious biscoff cookies on the plane. Dinner: Chick-fil-A at the airport (no bread). Another borderline fail, but my god, I was cranky after a couple of 18-hour days and did not want to cook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Day 11 (01/15/15) Back at home. Trying to get my feet back under me and get my head right. Breakfast: glorious hash with eggs, chicken, sweet potatoes, kale Lunch: mashed cauliflower + roasted chicken Dinner: Thank God for the Whole Foods deli... meatballs + garlicky kale + potato wedges + big green salad w/ vinaigrette, carrots, pumpkin seeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Day 12 (01/16/15) Breakfast: hash with eggs, chicken, kale + herbal tea Lunch: mashed cauliflower + ground turkey Dinner: I was tired.... did a "2 egg+ banana" pancake + sweet potato fries. Ugly, but it got the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Day 13 (01/17/15) Breakfast: dined out with a friend.... would've really liked to have chowed down on the English muffin that was served with my eggs, potatoes and sausage, but did not. No coffee, just water. Lunch: Turkey meatballs + big green salad with carrots, pumpkin seeds, vinaigrette Dinner: Dined in the home of some friends. I had a glass of white wine wine. I also had a big beautiful caesar salad with grilled chicken. Skipped the pasta and the lemon pie for dessert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Day 14 (01/18/15) A very lazy day at home. I slept in, woke late and cooked up a storm. Breakfast/lunch: veggie hash with eggs and bacon Lunch/dinner: Spaghetti & meatballs (Paleo style - using spaghetti squash) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Day 15 (01/19/15): I woke from a vivid dream last night about eating a huge powdered doughnut covered with little chocolate candies. I didn't even want the doughnut, but I ate it anyhow. (That sounds like my relationship with sugar in a nutshell.) Pre-workout snack: A few almonds Breakfast: veggie hash with eggs and bacon Lunch: Paleo spaghetti & meatballs Snack: Sunflower seeds, herbal tea Dinner: Sweet potato "toasts" brushed with ghee, steamed broccoli, 2 Applegate Farms sausages I am going to be away from home for three days this week and three days next week. This is the "gauntlet" of work travel that almost made me not want to attempt a Whole-30-like experience. However, I am sticking with my mantra of Just Do the Best You Can and Then Get Back on the Horse.... it may be an extended sojourn but I'll be back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Day 16 (01/20/15): Was awake very early for a one day business trip. A very long day. Breakfast: veggie hash with eggs and bacon Snack: 1/2 Paleo power bar of some sort Second breakfast: Breakfast wrap with eggs and veggies (purchased from a coffee shop before client meeting.... I was starving). Medium latte made with soymilk. Lunch: "Chinese salad" (greens, vinaigrette, shredded carrots, pulled turkey, mandarin slices, sesame seeds) Dinner: Back at home — Paleo spaghetti & meatballs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Day 17 (01/21/15): Breakfast: veggie hash with eggs and bacon Lunch: Paleo spaghetti & meatballs Dinner: Sweet potato "toasts" with ghee, steamed broccoli, 2 Applegate Farms sausages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Day 18 (01/22/15): Breakfast: veggie hash with eggs and bacon; small latte made with soymilk Lunch: chicken fingers + fries (had to get fast food while on the road) Dinner: This was the company meeting I had been anticipating for a long time. I definitely went off-roading, but it wasn't too terrible. And it was an incredibly delicious and special meal. One cocktail, an appetizer of fish cakes covered with veggies in some kind of creamy sauce, a 1/10 portion of a "chicken and waffles" appetizer, fried chicken, steamed collards, and a "hoe cake" for dinner. Uff. It was so good. No dessert was offered, which is good, because it is right at this time that the sugar cravings always hit. Argh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Day 19 (01/23/15): Breakfast: hotel meal... 2 scrambled eggs, 2 sausage patties, hash browns, OJ Lunch: crappy meal-in-a-box from the hotel.... it was a turkey sandwich with chips, cookie, etc. I ate the turkey and the chips. Skipped the bread and the cookie. Came home with some very fierce sugar cravings. Managing to hold the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Day 20 (01/24/15): Breakfast/lunch: egg + veggie scramble Snack: Go Raw "cookies" + almond butter; a few almonds Dinner: cajun fried chicken, mixed steamed veg, sweet potatoes with raisins, big green salad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Day 21 (01/25/15): Breakfast: I did not stay on Whole 30. Two eggs over medium with toast. And coffee — coffee with cream. I was out for breakfast. I decided to go for it. Eh. Lunch: Sweet potato "toasts" with steamed broccoli and 2 Applegate Farms sausages. A few slices of pepperoni as a snack. Still staying away from sugar. That is my guiding light. Dinner: scraping the verrrrry bottom of the leftovers barrel.... a bit of ground turkey, scrambled eggs, diced potato. My travel schedule at work makes it kinda tough to time my cook-a-thons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Day 21 (01/26/15): Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and bacon Snack: sliced carrot with almond butter; some sunflower seeds Lunch: Spaghetti & meatballs (paleo) Snack: Cheese and crackers. Yes. I had an incredibly frustrating morning at the office, with technological snafus making the day kind of a waste. I came home early. I did not want to eat another sad handful of almonds. Dinner: Sweet potato fries + 2 egg/banana pancake. OMG, I am so sick of cooking. So sick of washing dishes. I need a break, and soon. The cravings aren't bad, but I'm at the point in the cycle where the perpetual meal planning, shopping, prep and clean-up is feeling burdensome. This is the feeling state that makes people decide to call for carry-out pizza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Day 22 (01/27/15): Breakfast: 2 egg/banana pancake, mixed with a scoop of 'primal' protein powder.... I was famished after a workout and wanted to eat something quick. Snack: Gingersnap Go Raw cookies + almond butter Lunch: Grass fed beef meatballs + mashed sweet potatoes with ghee... trying to stretch some leftovers until tomorrow morning, when I leave for another business trip Dinner: chicken strips + fries with KETCHUP. Chick-fil-A. Not on plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Day 23 (01/28/15): Breakfast: scrambled eggs + bacon, at about 4 am, just before heading out to a long series of client meetings Snack on the plane: salted peanuts Lunch: Turkey + bacon club sandwich, served at client meeting... potato chips (this is my 3-day stretch of possible off-roading) (but at least I skipped the delicious-looking chocolate cookie for dessert) Dinner: Went way off track here. Giant client dinner with a big bowl of pasta, cocktails, wine, etc.) (but at least I skipped the dessert tray that looked incredibly delicious.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contessa Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Day 24 (01/29/15): Breakfast: quick hotel buffet.... scrambled eggs + sausage + diced potatoes, just before another long client day Lunch: Chicken + artichoke sandwiches served at client meeting, with green salad Dinner: Way off roading again. Dinner with my boss and colleagues. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. 1 cocktail + 1 glass of wine. Beautiful petite filet + roll with butter + baked potato + potatoes au gratin + brussels sprouts. Coulda been worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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