emmieloo Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 So hello. I have introduced myself on here twice now... this is my third time attacking the Whole30 with real conviction, but I have gone ahead and called it a Whole100 because I am not stopping until I am DONE. Here is the brief story: This is a pic of me from 2012. I was about to graduate college, in a horrendous relationship, and wrestling with crippling depression and insomnia, as well as a variety of other health issues. I have been eating Paleo on and off for over a year at this point (mostly off, clearly) but just couldn't find it within myself to change my life drastically or permanently for the better. Until, a little over a year ago, I saw another picture of myself that my friend had posted to her Instagram. Yeah. It wasn't cute. It was finally at this point, a year out of college and a year from that horrible relationship that I decided to change my life forever. I'm not going to lie - I was really worried that it was be the "Tale as Old as Time" where I lose about 20lbs and then gain it back within two months. #Classic I was wrong. I lost 20lbs... way more than that actually. As of a few days ago, I have lost and kept off 55lbs by completely two Whole30's and eating Paleo on/off this past year: That is a picture I just took, so I apologize for my lazy appearance. It's whatever. Anyway, so life is better. I have been running, biking, hiking, wearing a bathing suit in public (GASP) but I am STILL not comfortable with where my body is at because I still have another 30lbs to lose until I am at a healthy weight. Plus, I feel like I am getting SOOOO close to Beyonce status. (You know, looking fierce and fly without losing my womanly body type? Haha) And I always think, would Beyonce give up because she got to be "good enough" or would she keep going until she had achieved the closest she could get to perfection? So that's where I am now! I started a Whole30 on July 10, 2015, but it got extended again and again until I decided, "You know what? Why not just aim for the hardest thing I could possibly imagine." So friends, I am going to do a Whole100. And I am on Day 20 today. And it has been great and delicious and dang if I ain't feelin' myself, but I can see I need to make this a long term lifestyle change to completely change my body. So I am giving myself 100 days to prove that I CAN and WILL achieve a healthy weight, a healthy lifestyle, AND healthy body love/confidence. Follow my journey! I need somewhere other than Instagram and my private blog where I can find support from a community that understands the day to day struggles. That was a novel. Guess that's all for now. Haha. I end my 100 days on October 13, 2015. Wish me luck! SW, March 7, 2014: 225lbs (estimate, was probably higher than this actually.) CW, July 25, 2015: 170lbs (Yes, I weighed myself a few days ago. A no no. I am committing to not weighing myself again.) ~ Also, thanks to eating well and living well this past year, I have been off medication AND don't have insomnia anymore. :-) #RightOn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Day 20 Alrighty, it's the end of Day 20! Wish I had the mindfulness to begin this twenty days ago - but hey! I still got 80 days of this! Meal One: BP Coffee, finished off the Shepherd's Pie Meal Two: Two chicken legs, spinach/baby kale salad w/ dump ranch, and half an avocado Meal Three: Blackened salmon, brussels sprouts w/ approved bacon Delicious day. Also, feeling full and nourished at this point. Exercise: And the TIGER'S BLOOD IS REAL FOR ME LATELY. My butt can't sit around the house watching Hannibal like I used to. It is bitter sweet, but my energy levels are through the roof so I have had to get moving lately. I think I have ran/walked/hiked over 30 miles this week? Haha. Anyway, today I went for a three mile run. My friend and I throwing around the idea of training for a half-marathon, but I wouldn't even know how to begin. Anyway. That was today. Peace and love to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 Day 21 Overall, pretty good day. Meal One: two chicken apple sausages, sauteed kale, half an avocado, sauteed butternut squash, and bp coffee This was a huge breakfast, but an hour after this I train, so it was plenty to give me energy! Meal Two: three pieces of bacon, crispy fried egg, half an avocado, 3/4 roasted white potato, power greens salad w/ dump ranch (Still very hungry after training! haha) Meal Three: well, spicy chicken legs are in the oven, as well as a cast iron with onion and zuchinni, but I haven't decided if I will eat it as I ate just three hours ago. May just pull a late dinner, in which case, I'll have two chicken legs and a cup of veggies. Probs. Exercise: I began a running training program a couple weeks ago, so today was a run day. Did 2mile run at 12min/mile (uh, need to work on this time!!!) and then another 2.5 miles. It was lovely. Runs are getting easier with each day of Whole30. Yay for Day 21! Whole30(100) is my favorite! It changes your life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbyn Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Wow, emmieloo, you have already accomplished so much! I am thinking about extending my whole30 too...just don't know if I can do it! This is my 3rd whole30 as well. Truthfully I'm mostly just excited at the end of 30 days to weigh myself, wish I didn't care so much about that! Wish you luck and looking forward to following along here. Do you post about whole30 on instagram? My profile name is @bluegrass_whole30 and I've found a nice community there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 Wow, emmieloo, you have already accomplished so much! I am thinking about extending my whole30 too...just don't know if I can do it! This is my 3rd whole30 as well. Truthfully I'm mostly just excited at the end of 30 days to weigh myself, wish I didn't care so much about that! Wish you luck and looking forward to following along here. Do you post about whole30 on instagram? My profile name is @bluegrass_whole30 and I've found a nice community there! Thank you so much, for the encouraging words! Yes, I am on the verge of tossing the scale all together. With strength training, eating well, and all that... the number doesn't change as much anymore even though my body composition is always changing! Man, does that number have me in it grips sometimes though! Haha. I do! My Instagram is paleobeyonce! I'll be sure to follow you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi emmieloo & congrats on making it to day 21 I don't see any pre & postWO meals listed here, albeit there are only two days worth of food - maybe something you should consider to deal with that hunger....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 Hi emmieloo & congrats on making it to day 21 I don't see any pre & postWO meals listed here, albeit there are only two days worth of food - maybe something you should consider to deal with that hunger....! Thanks for calling that out. Honestly, not sure what's the best way to do that since I am, in general, new to more high intensity stuff and running long distance. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 Day 22 While I ate compliant yesterday, technically... I didn't do well at all since I was running all over the place. Not enough food or vegetables by any meals. Meal One: Three chicken legs, bp coffee Meal Two: Rx bar, peach (so much sugar, not good I know... but I didn't plan well at all.) Meal Three: Three slow cooker spicy beef tacos on lettuce with avocado, cilantro, lime sauce (yumm!) Exercise: Yesterday was a rest day so I chilled out and did normal, human life-related activities. Though around 4pm, I had absolutely random KILLER joint pain in my left wrist and elbow - to the point where my wrist was useless. No idea what caused this... initially thought it was arthritic pain due to weather changing and rain coming, but ended up lasting way longer and far more sharp that my normal joint pain. Felt like an injury... but I haven't actually done anything to merit that. It still hurts this AM. Gahhh. Not sure what to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Thanks for calling that out. Honestly, not sure what's the best way to do that since I am, in general, new to more high intensity stuff and running long distance. Any suggestions? Let me know what a typical day's training schedule looks like f or you and I'll see how you can fit something in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Let me know what a typical day's training schedule looks like f or you and I'll see how you can fit something in... Sure. It is typically two days of cross training (biking for 20-40 mins or strength training/stretching for 20-40mins) and the alternate days are 2-3 mile runs with long mile 5+ runs on Saturday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Day 23 I got Tiger's Blood for REAL! Man, every time I start a Whole30, I slug my way through the beginning forgetting just how incredible LIFE ITSELF it when you get past those up and downs from sugar! I mean I tell you, I struggle with insomnia on and off but Whole30 has me out like a light by 11pm, and I am up at 7am! Not to mention consistent energy levels throughout the day - I mean a month ago, it was a struggle to leave my bed during the day (I do a lot of work from home) but now, the idea of staying in bed all day sounds like torture! I want to frolic and be outdoors and do things! I ran today, then came back and cleaned the HECK out of my room. It has never been so clean or organized, and I also *deep breath* gathered all the clothes that no longer fit me and packed them away. Yesterday evening I went out with friends, and we realized as I was getting ready, none of my dressing fit me anymore. I had to wear a belt around each of them to prove I was a woman! In some ways it's frustrating because I don't have anything that fits, but because I am still losing weight, I don't want to buy more clothes. But also, and I can't fully explain this... it is somewhat strange and sad. Because I don't recognize my body anymore. This happened with my face these past few weeks too... I am realizing I have angles and a shape to my face I had never seen in my post-puberty life, and I don't know this face. (I know I sound dramatic) I am getting used to the changing me... seeing that my body is taking on a natural shape I didn't know it had. Noticing I have naturally chubby cheeks when I smile whether I am overweight or not... Blah. I'm done rambling. I am just changing. And it is exciting and fun and great that clothes are falling off me, but it is also bittersweet. I am literally watching the old me melt away. Excited to see what lies ahead though! Meal One: Avocado, banana, bp coffee (Yes, I know this is AWFUL. Truth is I had a bunch of friends over, and I knew if I cooked something, they would want me to cook them food, and compliant bacon ain't cheap so I shoved this in my mouth quickly until they left. Haha) Meal Two: (post-run) Roasted sweet potato with ghee, and barbacoa with cilantro, limo, avocado sauce Meal Three: Salad greens with two pieces of bacon, crispy fried egg, dump ranch, Trilogy Kombucha from GT Exercise: Today was a serious NSV. For the past few weeks this summer, I have been desperately trying to get up to a 5k in my outdoor runs. And it has been so hot and humid in ATL, and I have been so tired that I have maybe been able to pull a two miler and then another two miler if I gave myself a thirty minute break and some caffeine in between. But today, I timidly set out for my first long run of the training season, a full three miles, and before I knew it, I had hit 3.13mile and still had energy to keep running. I couldn't freaking believe it. And my average mile time was cut by almost a minute. WHAT! Go Tiger Blood! Go body go! I completely believe that the change in my energy levels and my body's ability to recover and push harder is because of nutrition from Whole30. Here's to all the miles we will run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Sure. It is typically two days of cross training (biking for 20-40 mins or strength training/stretching for 20-40mins) and the alternate days are 2-3 mile runs with long mile 5+ runs on Saturday! How do these work into your food schedule - as in what time of day are you training/running? Food wise the recommendation for preWO is protein & fat - just a few bites is fine, something like a hard boiled egg works well, or a few bites of some chicken & some olives, or a dollop of mayo, but you may find that unless you are training first thing in the morning that you don;t actually need this, or that if you're *a little* bit hungry before starting then you could up the quantity of the fat in your previous meal next day. The recommendation for postWO is protein & starchy veg - the favourite choice here is some chicken & sweet potato. I'd add this into your schedule on the days you are doing stranth training & long runs & see how you go from there. Again, it doesn't have to be a huge amount, just a few bites of each as soon as you're done, shower, then eat your next meal. It's something you can play around with as you go to see what works best for you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 But also, and I can't fully explain this... it is somewhat strange and sad. Because I don't recognize my body anymore. This happened with my face these past few weeks too... I am realizing I have angles and a shape to my face I had never seen in my post-puberty life, and I don't know this face. (I know I sound dramatic) I am getting used to the changing me... seeing that my body is taking on a natural shape I didn't know it had. Noticing I have naturally chubby cheeks when I smile whether I am overweight or not... Blah. I'm done rambling. I am just changing. And it is exciting and fun and great that clothes are falling off me, but it is also bittersweet. I am literally watching the old me melt away. Excited to see what lies ahead though! You have a very pretty face, and I'm sure it's at it's prettiest when you're smiling - embrace these positive changes you are making. The old you is still there inside, reardless of how much you change on the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 You have a very pretty face, and I'm sure it's at it's prettiest when you're smiling - embrace these positive changes you are making. The old you is still there inside, reardless of how much you change on the outside. Aw thanks! I know it is a super lame thing to complain about, I just think it is going to take a bit of getting used to. And thanks for the work out meal advice! That's super helpful! I will pick up some stuff specifically for that as well, because I just find my self super hungry on those days! Definitely will incorporate it into my work out schedule! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbyn Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Aw, emmieloo, I'm sure it feels weird to notice such dramatic changes and feel unsure about them! I remember I lost a good amount of weight in college and starting getting way more (unwanted!!) male attention and it made me feel so disgusted I almost wanted to gain it all back. I can also relate (in an opposite way) cause I just had my second baby and have 20-30 lbs to lose and I don't quite recognize my face in photos right now, it's so much rounder. I'm grateful to have had healthy pregnancies and confident I can get back in shape but I'm in a similar stage- nothing fits quite right but I don't want to buy too much! I actually did go to a consignment store and got 2 pairs of jeans and a bunch of dresses. The dresses will fit me in the future and I'll probably sell the jeans back when they're too big. If you can afford it, get a couple things that fit you well now, it's such a treat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Aw, emmieloo, I'm sure it feels weird to notice such dramatic changes and feel unsure about them! I remember I lost a good amount of weight in college and starting getting way more (unwanted!!) male attention and it made me feel so disgusted I almost wanted to gain it all back. I can also relate (in an opposite way) cause I just had my second baby and have 20-30 lbs to lose and I don't quite recognize my face in photos right now, it's so much rounder. I'm grateful to have had healthy pregnancies and confident I can get back in shape but I'm in a similar stage- nothing fits quite right but I don't want to buy too much! I actually did go to a consignment store and got 2 pairs of jeans and a bunch of dresses. The dresses will fit me in the future and I'll probably sell the jeans back when they're too big. If you can afford it, get a couple things that fit you well now, it's such a treat! That is SO true actually! I was talking to my friend about that... the unwanted male attention has gotten so much worse. Grossssss! Even yesterday I went out for a run, and this group of boys... oh man. And I have gotten followed while out running TWICE. Come on people!!!! But great idea about the clothes! I hadn't even though to check Goodwill or other cheap places! Will do!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Day 24 So yesterday wasn't the best eating day, I will say. I ate all compliant ingredients, but I know I wasn't following the meal template for lunch, I was just running late. I know, not an excuse. Need to plan better! Meal One: banana, three pieces of bacon, egg, sauteed kale, bp coffee (another level of hungry, woke up at 6:45am and my stomach hurt I was so hungry) Meal Two: handful of raw walnuts, almond milk, boiled egg, and raspberries/blueberries Meal Three: barbacoa, power greens with dump ranch and an avocado Exercise: Yesterday was second rest day. Should do some cross training today! Busy day for sure. Feeling good because I am in a real groove with this way of life - I am not tempted when I got to out to eat with friends (I did TWICE yesterday) - and I am feeling energetic! Body was up at 7am naturally today, which is so weird.... but I am not mad at it. Excited to start Day 25 today. Just five days until I complete my first round - and I don't think I will weigh myself. Really not feeling the scale anymore. Instead, I may take some more pics, measure my body, and write a blog on how I feel. I will still have 70 days to go after that. Wonder if I actually can do a Whole100? It would put the end of it in mid-October. Which would give me time to enjoy some pumpkin flavored goodies afterward and it still be appropriate! Haha. Let's do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Day 25 So, I am realizing as I become more active and as my job picks up more and more for the coming school year, if I don't plan well... I just fall apart. My biggest issue isn't eating compliant ingredients or struggling with sugar cravings/food cravings (because I'm like, #byefelicia!) but it is actually eating ENOUGH and eating HOLISTICALLY as I do. This is the third day I have struggled to abide by the plate template, and it is the third day I have let my nuts be my go to. Now, I only share this in an effort to be honest, but I know that how I have been eating these past few days is unsatisfactory. And my fall back on nuts and fruit has nothing to do with having a "snacky" mindless eating habit, because that is gone... rather I fall back on them because they are easy and accessible and portable and don't require me having to cook every few hours. So, that's my disclaimer. And as far as plans to improve... I feel like I need to continue making two delicious meals at time so I have variety. I need to make large quantities, and then I need to stick it in the fridge so I can easily grab and go. I did this well the past twenty days but, I have just grown weak in my cooking game and effort. So anyway, I will improve. (*she chants to herself* I will improve! I will improve!) Meal One: berries, handful walnuts, almond milk and bp coffee (ran out the door) Meal Two: last of the barbacoa, Lara Bar (oh how awful!!!) PW: banana, almond butter (OH MY GOD, SHE HAD NUTS AGAIN! HELP HER LORD!) Meal Three: sweet potato, bacon, and half an avocado Yeah. The above is real sad. But I am not going to let it destroy me - I will do better tomorrow. (*I will improve! I will improve!*) Exercise: Nine mile hike for cross training day. So after my hike, I came home so starving... so thirsty... so tired... I couldn't wait to boil an egg or cook a sweet potato... I grabbed a banana, almond butter, and a spoon and went to town. (Poor planning leads to this) But like I said: each round of Whole30 I do, I get better at and improve and learn and grow and this is another part of that process. And it is okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 Day 26 Yesterday was great. I woke up around 6:45am, and I finally rolled out of bed by 7:20am. So I had a nice early start to the day which is great. PreW: banana Meal One: one chicken apple sausage, one egg, sautéed asparagus, americano Meal Two: bacon, turkey, avocado "wraps" with dump ranch & chipotle mayo Soo, I am realizing I didn't eat a third meal. Didn't even occur to me actually. I had some grapes and plantain chips at different points of the day, but I just didn't feel hungry or remember to eat dinner, I guess? I dunno. I know we are supposed to have three meals a day... whoops. Exercise: 2 mile run. So, I did this right after I woke up, with just a banana, the day after a nine mile hike... it just wasn't good. I had a horrible mile time, I felt really out of it... very discouraging. I am hoping it is just from all the combined issues and changes I made to my run schedule but, I guess we'll see tomorrow. Yesterday was a quick and easy day... I could really sense how my body is changing. I walked around outside without feeling super self-conscious of my body in shorts and a tank top, and I kept thinking to myself: How did I every live life differently? But I did. This time... this time it is sticking. I can feel it. Because how I feel, how I look, how much progress I have made... it is worth pressing on. It is worth going to the end. So I will. Also, I slept in today. I figured my body needed an extra hour of shut eye with how tired and sore I was yesterday. I almost fell asleep on the couch in the middle of the day, so I knew my body needed a rest. So I fell asleep around midnight and woke up at 7:50am, and was in and out until about 9:30am. Can't tell if I overdid the sleep or underdid it still because I feel groggy and yawny all morning. Hmm. What a delicate balance. We'll see I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbyn Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Hahah we all have days like your day 25, at least I do! Made me laugh. I keep reminding myself neither of my last 2 whole30's were exactly perfect template meals 100% of the time, but wow, they were still super effective! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Day 25 PW: banana, almond butter (OH MY GOD, SHE HAD NUTS AGAIN! HELP HER LORD!) Exercise: Nine mile hike for cross training day. So after my hike, I came home so starving... so thirsty... so tired... I couldn't wait to boil an egg or cook a sweet potato... I grabbed a banana, almond butter, and a spoon and went to town. (Poor planning leads to this) Day 26 PreW: banana Exercise: 2 mile run. So, I did this right after I woke up, with just a banana, the day after a nine mile hike... it just wasn't good. I had a horrible mile time, I felt really out of it... very discouraging. I am hoping it is just from all the combined issues and changes I made to my run schedule but, I guess we'll see tomorrow. Switch your preWO to protein & fat as per the recommendation rather than carbs as you're confusing your body. You're trying to become fat adapted, but you're feeding your body sugar & therefore telling it to burn sugar as there's plenty more on the way. This could be why your run wan't good. And yeah, I'm not even gonna mention the lara bar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Switch your preWO to protein & fat as per the recommendation rather than carbs as you're confusing your body. You're trying to become fat adapted, but you're feeding your body sugar & therefore telling it to burn sugar as there's plenty more on the way. This could be why your run wan't good. And yeah, I'm not even gonna mention the lara bar... Totally agree. I finally boiled some eggs to keep in the fridge! Seriously, just poor planning and poor thinking. Not making that horrible mistake again! And don't worry, it was the only Lara Bar I had the past 28 days so far... And it was out of desperation. Haha. NEVER AGAIN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmieloo Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Day 27 Today was a great day. Just absolutely beautiful weather, dare I say... a hint of fall in the air? (Definitely not, but we can all hope here in Georgia) My cousin has been in town so I have been showing her around to all the best places to eat, and I am not kidding... half our time together has been me sitting at a table and watching her eat and drink my favorite food, ice cream, and beer. But that is okay! Because I am telling you, people are starting to notice the changes in me! I am getting comments left and right. My roommate's boyfriend apparently remarked in the car: "I just can't believe how different Emmie looks from when I met her! She is like a completely different person!" And when she later told me, I jumped for joy because I don't just look like a different person.... I am a different person. I feel different. It is an incredible difference, the girl I am today compared to a year ago. I am thankful for the journey - thankful it has been long and imperfect and riddled with mess-up moments and moments of consciousness... because it hasn't been in vain. All these moments have been leading somewhere. Meal One: bacon, eggs, kale, w/ bp coffee Meal Two: lamb masala w/ zucchini and peppers Meal Three: lamb masala w/ zucchini and peppers Exercise: After Day 26's INCREDIBLE tiredness, I decided to switch my rest days to give my body time to recoop. So I rested yesterday, and I didn't complete my cross training. I did walk around a lot yesterday, and we went dancing so I certainly wasn't immobile, just didn't lift heavy sadly. My cousin is a chef so she made the masala. It's dairy free, sugar free, gluten free, etc. and it is SOOO good. I bought some cauliflower to rice, I have just been too lazy these days. But I will be eating this probably for the rest of the week... there is so much of it. Which is good. (Save me all the money and all the time cooking!) We did go out to show her the ATL nightlife, so my sleeping has been a mess this past 24 hours. Didn't fall asleep until 3am, and I finally rolled out of bed by 11am. Uh. I was doing so good there. Anyway, hoping to get back to my regular hours tonight since I am so tired today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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