Day 3!

[jkmetsy]

It's a good day, even though I'm tired. I've stuck to the meal plan, and I keep looking at this timeline, wondering when my sugar dragon will raise its ugly head. I could binge on an entire bag of jelly beans, or half a pan of brownies or cookies before, but I don't even think about these things. I'm so focused on making my meals, and enjoying them, that I haven't had time to think about it. It's freeing!

[jkmetsy]

Day 4! I feel so good today! I have a little bit more energy, and believe me, every little bit counts!

Things I've noticed:

-more energy

-less bloating

-sleeping better (I'm not snacking befor bed)

-more *ahem* regular

-my cravings are easier to ignore! <---This is the best of all!!

There are other things, too, that I think might be even better. When I first read the Whole30 book, I knew I had to commit, but I've said that so many times, and I was weary. Last night, it really, really sunk in. I had this bright light moment, and I realized that I'm worth this. I'm worth the hard work, worth all the effort and healthy food. That just motivates me even more!

[jkmetsy]

Day 7 complete!! Feeling great, doing exactly what I need to do. It's late, and I must sleep, but maybe at some point tomorrow, I'll sit down and write more about all the good things happening so far!

[jkmetsy]

Alrighty, today was a rough day. I felt a little outta control, even though I ate 3 meals, completely compliant. I don't know if it was the busy weekend, or the impromptu fishing trip, but I feel like I did not eat enough, honestly. It could all very well be in my head, lol!

I notice that my jeans are slipping down. Fresh outta the dryer, these suckers are normally tiiiight. Put them on today, and I could zip them up and button them, and they don't feel like they normally do. By mid day, I kept having to hike them up, which is not normal, at all. It makes me smile!!

I take medication at night, and if I don't take it, I don't get sleepy. I've noticed that right around 8 pm, I start to feel sleepy. By 8:30 pm, I'm in bed, and on my way to dream land. This is sooooo nice. I'm still struggling to get up in the morning, but there are other reasons for that. (I'm hypothyroid, so my morning temp is around 96.4, and I'm just really sluggish. I will be increasing my thyroid meds slowly over the next month, and waking up will get a little easier, I hope.)

No sugar cravings, but I am craving carbs like pasta and bread. This is odd, because I was never a pasta or bread kinda person to begin with.

One more thing to note: I am hypoglycemic (my blood sugar never goes above 100, and even 90 would be considered my "high". 82-86 are my average numbers.), and I was honestly worried that cutting out carby foods would present a problem, but this entire week, my blood sugar levels have not dropped (we're talking down into the 40's and 50's before I started W30). They have actually gone up to a healthy 92-97.

That's all for tonight! Good night from the great northwest!!

[ShannonM816]

Congrats on the jeans being too big!

 

Alrighty, today was a rough day. I felt a little outta control, even though I ate 3 meals, completely compliant. I don't know if it was the busy weekend, or the impromptu fishing trip, but I feel like I did not eat enough, honestly. It could all very well be in my head, lol!

No sugar cravings, but I am craving carbs like pasta and bread. This is odd, because I was never a pasta or bread kinda person to begin with.
 

 

Maybe you really didn't eat enough. Lots of people underestimate how much they need to eat on a Whole30, because it can seem like a lot of food, especially if you happen to come from a background of counting calories and restricting portions. Plus, even if you ate exactly the same thing today as you ate yesterday, it's absolutely possible to need more food from one day to the next.

 

For the carb cravings, depending on where you are in your cycle, it may not be "cravings" the way we normally think of them, as some evil thing to resist -- it may really be your body begging for more calories and nutrition because it needs it. For most women, this seems to happen in the week before and sometimes the week of your period. This discussion has some more explanation on that.

[jkmetsy]

Hi Shannon! I do plan on increasing my portion sizes tomorrow, and eating nice and slow until I feel that "fullness" I missed out on today! As far as periods go, that totally makes sense. I have an iud, and I may have one every three months. Now that I think about it, it could very well could be that!

Thanks so much for the advice!!

[chezjulie]

Congrats on making it to Day 8! I made sure I ate some starchy carbs like sweet potatoes at a meal or two when I was concerned about (medication induced) cravings and that has helped me.

[jkmetsy]

Thanks, ChezJulie! Today has been easier, and Shannon was absolutely correct, I started my p.this morning. I took note of those cravings, so when it happens again, I'll remember.

I just made homemade sweet potato soup to go with my tuna boats (which I love!!). It's a perfect day for it, too. It's thundering and raining and cold up here in the Cascades today. I love this weather.

Day 9! I'm having chicken meatballs with spaghetti squash and homemade tomato sauce for dinner.

I realized that today marks the longest time I've gone without sweets, or herbal tea with honey. The diets I've tried before never lasted this long, and it's because I'm not using this as a diet. Instead, I'm baselining, and I'm thinking I may not add much back in after Day 30, if anything at all. I just don't miss it. There are cookies in this house, and marshmallows, and tortillas, because my husband and my kids aren't in this with me, even though they eat all the healthy food I do at dinner time.

I kinda feel guilty not having the cravings, the digestive issues, and other speed bumps others are having. Maybe my body knows it's time? Or is this the "bliss" phase, and in a few days, I'll be raging for marshmallow puff and smarties?

[jkmetsy]

Ohhhh...tonight the kids and the hubby are roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. This makes me sad. Very sad. It's something I have to work through, though. I know I can do this.

[jkmetsy]

Day 12, I'm feeling like a champion!!

[BaconLegs]

Day 12, I'm feeling like a champion!!

 

You ARE a champion! You're doing great!

[jkmetsy]

Thank you, BaconLegs!!

[jkmetsy]

Today is rough. I had so much fun this weekend, spending time with my husband and kids. I even went out on the canoe, which is a miracle in itself because I'm terrified of water. Because of my Hashimoto's, any physical activity backfires, and my body reacts by attacking itself. I am in so much pain today, I can't move. My temp, after getting up and moving around, is 95.4. I have absolutely no appetite, and even if I wanted to force feed myself, the pain of moving...all I can say is that it feels like I've got broken glass in my joints and I'm swollen everywhere.

I also tasted my first 2 tablespoons of almond butter. Holy moly! Lunch yesterday was roasted eggplant on a homemade burger (everything at the store contains sugar!! Why???), almond butter, and apple slices. I can see how people can get a little carried away with the butter. Delicious!

Of course I will stay dedicated today, but I just may not eat as much as I should. Hopefully I'll feel a lot better tomorrow.

[jkmetsy]

Officially past the two week mark!! WOOOOOO!!!!

[jkmetsy]

Tomorrow will be 3 weeks!! I feel so good!! Clothes aren't fitting anymore! No naps! I'm more happy! So, one more week and a day. I think, though, I will be doing another 30. I honestly don't see the point in adding anything back when I know now that the junk I was eating before was the cause of so much unhappiness, both physically and mentally.

I'll update in a few more days! ♡

[chezjulie]

That is wonderful! To be honest, I haven't had any cravings to speak of either, which is bizarre compared to before. Keep it up! We're in the home stretch!

[jkmetsy]

DAY 31!!!!!! I made it!! And, I'm going to go ahead and do another Whole30!! I just don't see the point in adding anything back. I realize how much I 1) don't want it, 2) don't need it, and 3) it all controlled me.

I have a long way to go, because ultimately, my body still has a lot of healing ahead. My thyroid function is still not optimal, my adrenals are going nuts, and it'll be a while before I finally get it all under control. I may not be able to control how my body functions, but I can control what I put into it.

Drumroll, please! I have lost 16 lbs total. I've dropped 7.25 inches (4 inches literally came off my rear end!). I honestly did not think the results would be this good.

Of course the weight loss is awesome, but I am no longer tempted by sweets or junk. I see them, and I pass right by them. In fact, I was going to celebrate my 31st day by having a hazelnut hot chocolate (paleo ingredients), and I bought what I needed to make it. I don't want it!! It's not that I shouldn't have it. I simply don't want it. I'm looking forward to my lemon rosemary chicken and cauliflower rice, and maybe a cup of chamomile tea.

Here's to Whole30 #2!

[jkmetsy]

Today was my weigh in, and I lost another 15 pounds! That's 30 pounds total!! My clothes, my undies, nothing fits me! It's been rough, that's for sure. Trying to get my thyroid in check, eat right, and add a little exercise to the whole deal. I will find out in September what my thyroid numbers are, but I feel that I'm close to optimal. My daily temps range from 98.1 to 98.9, which a huge difference between 96.2 and 97.4.

I've decided that I will continue on for another month. This month, though, I will be adding in low impact exercise. My muscles have atrophied over the past year from severe iron deficiency, but in the past 2 months I've raised both storage and serum, and I will continue to supplement when needed. Yeah, I can work or clean my car and my house, but I want my exercise to be more directed toward muscle strengthening. I'm starting a yoga class, which I think will be best for me in the beginning.

The combination of treating my thyroid with the right meds, and then feeding my body the right foods were the answer for me. 7 years, spent struggling, blaming myself for unexplainable and uncontrolled weight gain. I finally feel like I've fot a grasp on this, and that I can move on with a confidence I never had before, even when I was younger.

I started off at 234 pounds, severe and chronic pain all over, struggling to simply get off the couch or out of bed. I was a wreck. I know it sounds silly, but being able to clean my house is a blessing. I can do that, and much more.

And here's another bonus: The back story is really long, but I'll make this as short as I can. I was put on a drug to treat bipolar disorder. I've been on it for 7 years. I was misdiagnosed because the doctor I was seeing did not take my blood work seriously. She didn't see an autoimmune disease, she saw the dollar signs, and for the longest time, I was told it was BP. After having my current doctor go over everything 3 months ago, we have concluded that BP is not what I had when I had my break down. I was having a thyroid storm. My thyroid numbers were all over the place. All my hormones were completely out of wack. My doc and I have decided that it's time I come off the seroquel. It's wreaking havoc on my kidneys and liver. And, since getting on the right kind of meds, and replenishing my vitamin deficiencies, I have not had a single episode or BP symptom.

I can't articulate how grateful I am. What am amazing 2 months it's been!

♡♡

[Chellesdoingr8]

Congratulations!!!