Mike's Whole30 - Sept 2012

[SpinningApe]

Hey everyone....

Well, I have been lurking, and reading and contemplating long enough!

Starting tomorrow I will embark, and complete, the Whole30 Challenge!!

Here's a little background..

I have been overweight most of my adult life. In 2007 I had ballooned up to almost 300lbs, on a 5'7" frame. I was unhealthy, unhappy and depressed. I made decision right then and there to cut out the three "white deaths"... sugar, wheat and salt. I was able to lose 30lbs fairly effortlessly by just making that change to my diet, with little to no working out.

In the years since then I have been riding the weight loss/gain roller coaster. Earlier this year I was able to pass the 100lbs lost mark, eating a Paleo-ish diet while training for a half marathon. I was able to get on the scale and see a weight in the 180's for the 1st time since high school. Then... the wheels kind of fell off.

The woman I was in a relationship decided that she could do better than me so far as physical appearance goes (she had gastric bypass surgery and went from 270lbs to 120lbs in a year and I wasn't quite reaching my goals fast enough for her). So she upgraded and I went to pieces. Boo hoo I know. This was April, and I have gained about 25lbs back and have abandoned my working out and eating right.

Well... I'm done. She can kiss my "you know what"! I am in this for me!

So the month of September is mine to get my health back and get back on track to accomplishing the goals I set for myself many years ago. I will run a half-marathon within a year, I will run a marathon within 2 years and I will run an ultra within the next three years.

Today, after work, I am headed to Trader Joes to stock up on food the next couple weeks. I am a single guy, on a budget, so it is going to be interesting to see how well I can eat with limited funds. I am looking at is as a chance to get back to basics, eat and train like a Spartan warrior, and kick this thing in the butt!!

So stay tuned... this is going to get interesting...

[Derval]

As someone once said "The best revenge is a life well lived"

Go for it!

[SpinningApe]

So here a little update...

Decided to wait until the 3rd to start because I ended up going to the New York State Fair and for anyone that has been to the fair it is impossible to find anything healthy to eat. I know I could have brought my own food but I felt this to be a good way to go out with a bang.

Did my grocery shopping at Trader Joes on Friday and went home and cooked like a mad man. I have chicken breast, beef patties and a whole chicken at the ready. I also made some roasted summer squash and zucchini. I boiled some cage free Omega-3 eggs and have some avocados softening for guac and toppings.

My plan is to tackle this as Spartan as I can. Hunk of protein, loads of veggies and some good fats with each meal. I am only going to eat fruit a couple times per week, probably some berries and the occasional banana.

Day 1 Meals

M1: 2 eggs, 3 slices of TJ Uncured Turkey Bacon, about 1/4 of a medium sized sweet potato roasted with some green pepper and onions... all cooked in about 2/3 of a tbsp of coconut oil.

M2: Salad with romaine lettuce, kale, chard and spinach topped with cucumber, tomato, hamburger patty, evoo and balsamic vinegar.

M3: Pork chops topped with homemade guac (avocado, shallot, line and pepper), roasted green beans, salad

I was pretty tired by the end of the day but that was due to getting up at 6:30am after going to bed late the night before and walking for hours at the fair.

Forgot to mention that I bought some Kerry Gold Unsalted Butter to make some Ghee... just need to find a container to put it in.

Here's to day 2!