TurangaLeela's First Ever Whole30!

[TurangaLeela]

Hi everyone! I'm reporting in from Day 1 of my first-ever Whole30, and I'm really excited! I can't wait to start feeling the positive effects of good eating!

 

A little background about me: I'm 30, and I live in Brooklyn with my partner and my parrot, Henry. In June, I quit my job as a high school ESL teacher due to burnout, and am now back at school studying Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. I'm thrilled (and scared) to be starting a whole new life trajectory!

 

I got interested in Whole30 because for years I've had a weird constellation of symptoms that no doctor could ever seem to diagnose, and that always had a possible, partial explanation. Recurring sinus infections? Probably the work with kids. Congested for three solid years? Dry air from the heater. Or the A/C. Or outside. Always tired? Probably stress. Or Vitamin D. Or not enough exercise. And on and on... I bet a lot of us have had this experience!

 

I fall into the camp of women who were naturally skinny growing up, and so no one ever cared whether I was fit or healthy (a lot of bad health decisions are completely acceptable as long as you look good making them!). The past year or so, I've realized that I'm either tired or caffeinated, and I have a basically unlimited capacity for sleep. My diet has been reasonably healthy, but I do love me some coca-cola (it's definitely the treat I'll miss most). I strength train, but notice no difference in energy. That's my main motivation with Whole30: to gain steady, clear energy so that I can really enjoy this time in my life! (And if my persistent respiratory crap clears up too, that'll be a great bonus.)

 

So, here I am, off on a new adventure!

So far today:

Breakfast: 3 eggs scrambled with smoked salmon, asparagus and mushrooms

Lunch: Thai curry coconut chicken soup made w/bell peppers, green beans and mushrooms

Dinner will be: babyback ribs cooked in the slow-cooker, with roasted sweet potatoes and collard greens.

Feeling: pretty good - no difference in energy so far, but we'll see what happens!

 

Went grocery shopping today (and experienced a little paleo sticker shock, but it comes with the territory) and got supplies to make a batch of meatballs and a slow-cooker pork roast to nosh on all week, plus veg that I'm going to prep and stash in the fridge so that hunger won't take over later on.

 

Good luck to everyone out there, at every stage of your journey! 

[TurangaLeela]

Yesterday was Day 2!

Breakfast: scramble of leftover rib meat, collards and sweet potato with one egg

Lunch: Chicken coconut curry soup

Snack Attack: Meatballs with sweet potatoes & brussels sprouts, blackberries

Dinner: Fluke baked with almond & hazelnut crust, sauteed bell peppers, onions & zucchini, sweet potatoes

 

Felt pretty good yesterday - my energy was steady throughout the day, although still a little on the low side. I had one headache, toward evening. I'm still having a hard time waking up & eating right away. Even if I wake up hungry, I'm sluggish, and food doesn't sound very good. Plus I don't love eggs. I think I'm going to make a batch of frittata muffins or something so I don't have to think about breakfast too hard, at least until I get used to it.  I'm so accustomed to being empty until lunchtime!

 

Here comes Day 3 - gym today, gulp!

[TurangaLeela]

Reflecting on Day 3:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs with peppers and sweet potatoes

Lunch: meatballs with brussels sprouts, plus clementines

Dinner: chicken stewed with tomatoes and olives, sugar snap peas, roasted squash.

 

Things went well at the gym, and I felt pretty good all day. 

 

This morning I overslept, and now that I'm up I feel like I got run over by a truck. This might be that hangover everyone talks about. Uh-oh...