Seafarer Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Yesterday I had a light bulb moment. I was making a grocery list when I realized something... it was a SHORT list! Why? Because of my last Whole30 two years ago. My grocery list was short because I still consistently use most of the tips 'n tricks that I learned last time around. This tells me I should stop beating myself up for what I didn't get right, and start applauding myself for what I did get right. AND that while I still have things to figure out, I already have a big part of the learning curve under my belt. Baby steps matter. Just like writing down your water intake makes you realize how much (or how little) you are really drinking, so too will writing down the small victories help us know how well we really are doing. So... here's a place to celebrate our little victories. Because those little victories are going to add up to the huge ones. This week's victories for me: - I learned that I need probiotics. Digestive victory. - Random lady in the grocery store told me where to find coconut aminos... in a farm market of all places! And in that farm market? W30 compliant sausage! Victory for food variety. - I discovered "Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles". I always feel guilty if I can't use up my garden produce in ways that are W30 compliant... and I never want to waste it.... yummy/happy moment. Can't wait to see what's next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeGA"gardener" Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Good for you Seafarer you know what to do. Best of luck to you in your journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 Another victory today.... I suddenly had 15 minutes to get out the door & on the road. Knowing I would be gone until well past lunchtime I figured "oh well, I'll just have to be kinda hungry & wait", but then I wondered what in heck I'd do if something unexpected happened & I was away for even longer. So.... I grabbed a small cooler & an icepack, tossed in a container of leftover meat & another of leftover cooked veg, peeled a cucumber & bagged it, Tossed in a handful of fresh string beans, and..... waitaminute.... no fat! Think, think, think.... spooned a couple globs of coconut cream into a small container, tossed in a spoon, and plotted my route past a coffee shop to grab some black coffee to put the cream into. Out the door in under 15 minutes (even I did have to opt for a ball cap instead of a tamed head of hair). Victory for all that meal prep sitting in the fridge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY2LA2MONTREAL Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Another victory today.... I suddenly had 15 minutes to get out the door & on the road. Knowing I would be gone until well past lunchtime I figured "oh well, I'll just have to be kinda hungry & wait", but then I wondered what in heck I'd do if something unexpected happened & I was away for even longer. So.... I grabbed a small cooler & an icepack, tossed in a container of leftover meat & another of leftover cooked veg, peeled a cucumber & bagged it, Tossed in a handful of fresh string beans, and..... waitaminute.... no fat! Think, think, think.... spooned a couple globs of coconut cream into a small container, tossed in a spoon, and plotted my route past a coffee shop to grab some black coffee to put the cream into. Out the door in under 15 minutes (even I did have to opt for a ball cap instead of a tamed head of hair). Victory for all that meal prep sitting in the fridge! I really like your attitude...each benchmark a victory....good for you. Funny, I made dinner tonight and after putting it on the plate - I said - Where's the fat? took care of it right away. Don't you love how we are looking and appreciating food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 NY2LA2Montreal... definitely! I have a hard time with the fat additions. I may take to having a spoonful of ghee for "dessert". (My mom would soooo kill me! HA!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup. Fantastic with fish, and just right after a day spent outdoors in the sun. And enough left over for breakfast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 I am starting to think about reintroduction phase, which did not go so well on my first W30, and I'm trying to figure out strategies. ONE of the things that changed for me rather quickly after my last W30, and will again, on Day 29 of this W30, is that my husband will be home from the work patch. He is a supportive kind of guy, and loves to cook, but loves his non-compliant food, and if Lipton's dried onion soup mix will flavour-up the soup he is making, then in it will go and he truly does not understand why I am rejecting his soup, so I eat it & feel grateful that he is home & cooking. He also loves to share a glass of wine at the end of the day while we just sit & chat. Truly, I love that too. So... on my second W30 journey, I am planning to extend the 30 days to something a bit longer, and then do a very slow & careful re-intro. Hence, I need to plan for this, not just assume that I am tougher than those baby-blue eyes above that cute grin as he passes me the meal he just made. Step One via E-Mail: I reminded him that I had done a Whole30 once before, said I was doing another one, said how good I feel, and sent him the rules. I didn't mention it that night on our nightly phone call, nor did he, but last night he asked how my "diet" was going, and said that it all makes good sense to him. (Remember I said he's supportive? "Supportive" does not mean "Buys Into It".) So far, so good. My plan from now until he gets home is to find articles and tidbits of information that I think he will relate to, and send those along, together with new recipes that I have found which I think he would also enjoy. Hopefully he'll have more knowledge of what I am doing, and be willing to try some new things, by the time those baby-blues & that cute grin step off the plane. It's a start, and so far this feels like a victory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 Homemade mayo! OMG.... so good! I didn't have lemon, but I did have lime.... worked great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY2LA2MONTREAL Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Homemade mayo! OMG.... so good! I didn't have lemon, but I did have lime.... worked great! Isn't that so!!! When you made it...did you feel like you climbed Mount Everest? --- and it was SO SIMPLE - go figure, who'd a thunk. I used the lemon, but next time I am going to use Apple Cider Vinegar and see how that tastes. I LOVE MY MAYO CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hi NY2LA2Montreal..... YES! It was kind of magical, really. I like the apple cider vinegar idea!!! I must try that myself. I used to make mayo in a blender but 1) didn't like the taste much (didn't have a good oil for the base) and 2) it's really hard to get it all out of the blender. Light olive oil & a stick blender.... good-bye forever to commercial mayo. I have lots of tomatoes coming out of the garden right now. Mayo is the perfect addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 I was out of the house for most of the day today. I was uncertain on food facilities for M2, so I took a packed lunch... turned out to be a good call. For M3 I was uncertain of the restaurant menu, so ate a mini-meal prior to going so I wouldn't be hungry while navigating the menu. I used to assume I could just tough it out & eat later when the unexpected happened.... and I can, but I am setting myself up for some sort of disaster later.... or, at the very least, some serious exercise of will power in order to avoid that disaster. I have decided my willpower is pretty fickle, and I'm not interested in making things harder for myself, so score one for planning ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Today I asked about the iced coffee I was being served at Timmy's (Tim Hortons for those outside Canada). Hooray for asking questions! It turns out there is a sugar base that goes in all "Black Iced Coffee" unless you know enough to specifically request it be left out. Good grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I am retired from my career, but for the past few winters I have picked up a winter job, figuring it would keep me from getting winter cabin fever, keep me learning, keep me socially connected, not to mention the monetary boost. This spring it knocked me back on my heels a bit to realize how much my physical well-being had suffered during the "office months".... readily apparent when I got back out into the garden. I have been looking at my Bucket List while doing W30, and the winter jobs serve Goal #3, but actually work against Goals #1 & #2 (one of which is personal health), so although I (mostly) love the work, I don't need the work, and have decided to take it, this year, on a part-time basis.only, and not be in charge of a team. I think this means I have finally put Me at the front of the pack. All good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistyfire Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I can really see how hard you are working this program and it's such good reminder about how we all learn. It's not a linear path. I envision it more as a spiral where we keep coming back to the same place but at a different level. And each time we go around, we truly tighten that circle up as we learn. I'm so glad you're keeping this topic going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I can really see how hard you are working this program and it's such good reminder about how we all learn. It's not a linear path. I envision it more as a spiral where we keep coming back to the same place but at a different level. And each time we go around, we truly tighten that circle up as we learn. I'm so glad you're keeping this topic going! Thank you Mistyfire! Very much. I love this analogy. It's brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY2LA2MONTREAL Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Thank you Mistyfire! Very much. I love this analogy. It's brilliant. I can really see how hard you are working this program and it's such good reminder about how we all learn. It's not a linear path. I envision it more as a spiral where we keep coming back to the same place but at a different level. And each time we go around, we truly tighten that circle up as we learn. I'm so glad you're keeping this topic going! I hope I did this right but just in case this is for seafarer & misty fire ------ You are terrific. As women we tend to care for everyone else but ourselves -- hats off to us for putting us first. Like the flight attendants instruct us to put the oxygen masks on us first before our children --- because if we are not taken care of first we can't take care of anyone else. Onward and upward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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