Stacie's 1st Whole 30

[Sass]

Day 2 I actually felt a twinge of good. It was lingering somewhere in the background but I could feel it. So much so that when I woke up this morning on day 3 I was especially disheartened to not only not feel it any more, but instead I felt like I was trying to come out of a coma and all my joints are hurting again.

I have been all in 110%. I have recruited support. I meal planned and prepped. I am cooking new ways and new foods. It is a lot of work! It's a beautiful day outside, the sun is warm and the birds are singing. But I have no umph. So today is very frustrating, sorry for the pity party.

Thank goodness I don't have a busy schedule today. I will stay on track and look forward to better days to come. I will keep on chasing that good feeling because Lord knows I want it bad.

[ShannonM816]

It's pretty normal to have a few rough days at the beginning of your Whole30. You might find the timeline interesting -- it's not 100% guaranteed that you'll follow it exactly, but most people experience many of the symptoms listed at some point during their 30 days.

 

Be sure you're drinking enough water (1/2 oz per pound of body weight, so if you weigh 120 lbs, aim for at least 60 oz), follow the meal template for your meals, and maybe add an extra serving of starchy vegetables each day for a few days. (Generally, most people do best having at least one fist-sized serving of some kind of starchy vegetable each day.)

[Sass]

How can I change my original title? I just realized I was using this post wrong and that this was meant to be my ongoing log.

[Sass]

Last night I was awakened with the worst leg cramp I have ever had in my life. Brought tears to my eyes! I upped my water today to a full gallon and am praying that it does not happen again because that was horrible.

I seem to have a bit more energy during the day today but still crash hard early in the evening. I look forward to making it through a full day without hitting that proverbial wall each afternoon. Oh and I am very very hungry. No cravings, just hungry. And I am burnt out on cooking. My meals have been great but I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I am tired. Think I use this weekend to look into some less time consuming crockpot meals for next week's meal plan.

[ShannonM816]

How can I change my original title? I just realized I was using this post wrong and that this was meant to be my ongoing log.

 

Let me know what you'd like the title to be, and I'll change it for you. 

 

 

Last night I was awakened with the worst leg cramp I have ever had in my life. Brought tears to my eyes! I upped my water today to a full gallon and am praying that it does not happen again because that was horrible.

I seem to have a bit more energy during the day today but still crash hard early in the evening. I look forward to making it through a full day without hitting that proverbial wall each afternoon. Oh and I am very very hungry. No cravings, just hungry. And I am burnt out on cooking. My meals have been great but I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I am tired. Think I use this weekend to look into some less time consuming crockpot meals for next week's meal plan.

 

In addition to water, make sure you're salting your food, and look for foods rich in potassium and magnesium, as having too little of those can contribute to muscle cramps.

 

 

If you're truly hungry -- the usual test is, would you eat something bland like plain fish and steamed broccoli -- then eat. Have a mini meal of protein, fat, and vegetables, or at least two of the three.  Also consider that if you're consistently feeling hungry, you probably need to increase the size of your meals.

 

Crockpot meals are a good idea. Also be sure you always cook extra -- if you're grilling some chicken, don't just grill enough for one meal, grill extra for leftovers, or throw some burger patties or other proteins on the grill at the same time. If you're heating up the oven for a baked potato, do more than one. Roast trays of vegetables, save the leftovers for another meal. You might also look into the weekly cookup idea -- here's a basic description of it, and here's a one-week meal plan with instructions so you have a more concrete example.

[Sass]

Can you change it To Stacie's 1st Whole 30? Thank you so much, Shannon!

The problem is I DO cook a ton extra. The recipes are just so dang good there are rarely leftovers! I had quests for dinner 3 times last week. Everyone absolutely devoured the pork carnitas tonight and cauliflower lime cilantro rice. I even made double and it is all gone. I am so happy my husband, all my kids, grandkids and parents are really benefiting from my new found delicious meals. I am just so pooped!

[Sass]

One week DONE! I feel very proud of that.

Oh my goodness they were not kidding about the crazy dreams. The last 2 nights have been full of the most random dreams. Both food related and non food. And it is so funny, I did wake up in an absolute panic thinking I licked the spoon of the cookies I was baking in my dream.

Today is the first day I actually craved stuff. Cheese mostly. Seems like cheese was everywhere I looked today. Oh and my fingers cramped up today. Not painful like the leg the other night but it was very weird. I will work to put in more potassium and magnesium foods in like the moderator suggested.

I feel hungry A LoT. I do not think I am actually hungry because I would not eat plain fish. Broccoli maybe but I am betting it is just my mind playing tricks on me. It seems like I eat a lot. And I feel very full after my meals. Just a couple of hours after I feel grumbly in my tumbly.

[Sass]

Week one retrospect:

The first 2 days were easy. I was excited and had a great mind set. Day 3 thing went down hill fast. I was tired, grumpy, tired, headache, body aches, brain fog and did I mention, tired. I limped through days 4-5. Without the support of my husband and oldest daughter doing Whole 30 right beside me it would have been very easy to throw in the towel during this time. Day 6 I had a bit of an up tick in energy (thank goodness) so I exercised and did much needed yard work. And day 7 we went for a long atv ride in the mountains. I packed Whole 30 foods for the ride and had a crock pot of pork carnitas waiting for us when we got home exhausted but very happy. It was by far the best day yet!

Day 1 of my second week and I have renewed energy and excitement. I just finished my meal planning for the week and am off to stock up. My goal for the week is to do more up front food prep and spend less time in the kitchen on a daily basis so as to not get burned out. I will exercise 3 times this week. I will review the timeline and mentally prepare for any possible up coming challenges so as not to get derailed. I will be 100% on my water in take. (3 liters)

Overall, I am thrilled I stuck out the rough spots and am awake on day 8 feeling great! I am loving the delicious recipes and so is my family. I look forward to feeling even better at the end of this week and feel confident I will push through any of the week's struggles that may arise. I really want to get to that Tiger's Blood point! That is my end goal.

[Sass]

Wow end of the first 2 weeks. AND my first road trip In the bag! On our trip we packed a cooler full of whole 30 foods and went out for a steak and saiad once (brought my Tessamae's dressing). We had a picnic in the park with an organic rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, some celery, cucumber, carrot sticks and fresh fruit. It was awesome! I made some paleo bacon and egg salad lettuce wraps for breakfasts. All in all a very successful long weekend on the road. Now I am very excited to be home and back to cooking up some savory dishes.

I am feeling pretty good. Better energy. My hair and skin seem to be healthier. I am not hungry all the time anymore. I still am getting headaches and have mid afternoon let downs. Looking forward to those getting better too though, I am confident they will! My biggest struggle is not weighing myself right now. I definitely notice my clothes fitting better and I am starting to get compliments from family on looking good.

[Chellesdoingr8]

You are on a roll!!!

[Sass]

Woke up with a headache and joint pain. Wonder what happened? Maybe the fact that I didn't do great at lunch. I was running all over town getting my weekly supplies and let time get away. The one dang Whole Foods in town that has the only paleo bacon I can find is on the other end of the valley. I did visit a butcher for the first time ever in my home town. I had no alternative when we lived in Asia, but dealing with one down the street from where I grew up had a certain feel good quality; just call me Alice! All his beef, bison and pork are sourced locally from an organic ranch. No hormones or antibiotics added and all animals treated with the highest standards ( they live happy lives ) I learned the real differences between Prime and Choice grade (it has to do with the marbling). I learned that bacon is pork belly or pork side, never knew that. Maybe I will try it next time.

Breakfast: 2 eggs topped with 1/4 avacado over a plate of raw spinach, 2 slices pineapple, 2 cups coffee with coconut creamer

Lunch: Larabar - starving in the car about 1 pm, 2 oz leftover morracan chicken, 1 cup leftover spicy cauliflower, 4 chunks watermelon around 2

Dinner: ribeye, baked potato topped with sautéed in ghee onion, mixed power greens salad with avacado

[Sass]

Day 18 and still waiting for that magic. I continue to have a headache and joint pain. So tired of focusing on the negatives so I asked my husband if he noticed any changes in me. He says I definitely seem to have more stamina throughout the day. He pointed out that I get up without any drama and I go all day long until 9:30-10 without complaint. That is true; and a far cry from 2 1/2 weeks ago when I couldn't make it through a day without a nap and I was asking if it was too early for bed at 6:30 pm. He did also say, however, I have been edgy this week. This is also true. Maybe it is the bit of the program where the reward center of my brain is having a temper tantrum. If that is the case then I will except this side effect as a positive. Meaning, stuff is happening and the tiger blood is just around the river bend! I have had a couple of real rough days so far this week. It is the closest I have came yet to throwing in the towel (but I didn't). Luckily I don't have any cravings. I am just discouraged that I don't feel better and it feels like I have put in 110% effort. I think it must be because I do have an autoimmune disease and I am a case where it is just going to take a bit longer. Sigh....

Yesterday's menu:

Breakfast: 2 eggs on a bed of spinach. 1 slice pineapple 2 cups coffee with coconut milk

Lunch: 2 leftover pork carnitas on a boat of romaine topped with fresh pico and avacado

Snack: banana with spoonful of almond butter

Dinner: chicken curry with potato, carrot and onion on top of cauliflower rice

As always 3 liters of water throughout the day.

[Emma]

I can't believe I never read your posts.  You got through a rough rocky beginning!  Kudos!  I'm on Day 17 I think and also have more stamina, but I've been grumbly.  It's nice your husband can point out the changes because it's hard to see it in the midst of things.  I know when I've done Whole30's in the past I wasn't one of the recipients of Tiger Blood which I quietly accepted knowing that my body has been through the wringer and is going to have a lot more healing to do.  It did happen though - not the tiger blood, but a much healthier and less reactive body.  I think I just need to stick with it for the long haul which is part of my journey.  It's worth it though and things do improve, just sometimes the positives sneak up on you.

[Sass]

)

I love that and it is exactly right...Thank you for this!

[Sass]

Day 23. Starting my last week of my first Whole30 today. I have been especially disheartened because the elusive tiger blood continues to be out of my reach. Everyone around me agrees that I have followed the rules of the Whole30 to the tee. I am beginning to complentate that I may be one that needs to add a few days before I start reintroduction (whole40?). I will wait a few more days before I make that decision and hold out hope that things change in the last few days of my journey. I just want to feel better!!

Today's daily Whole30 addressed the issue of delayed magic and it was especially motivating, I am very glad I signed up for that. So was the above comment from the wonderful Emma. Funny how what you need comes at just the right time! Love the info and the support. I have no doubt I will finish at least a Whole30 to perfect completion.

I will work to try to focus on positives... I am sleeping better. I wake up easier. Cooking has become easier and my family looks forward to see what I have created each night. My kids even told me last night that it has been fun to see what is new each day and they look forward to keeping some of the new recipes in our regular rotation. My parents looked at me in shock on Sunday and both said "your face looks different!" They couldn't place it but both agreed that I looked good. And a new pair of pants I bought 10 days ago where too big yesterday! I will hold onto these tidbits and move forward.

Breakfast: 3 eggs on a bed spinach topped with pico and avacado

Lunch: 2 chicken sausages, leftover sweet potato mash

Dinner: paleo white chicken chili topped with avacado

[Sass]

Day 29 so close I can smell the pancakes! Problem is I don't really crave them any more... For the last week that is all I could think about, pancakes on day 31. Now all the sudden I don't want them.

I admit, it has been a struggle. Harder than I expected it would be for me. I have lost my Whole30 buddies; they jumped off the train somewhere in week 3. I remained vigilant and stuck to whole 30 compliant foods through the flu over the last few days. I complained and moaned about no magic throughout the process but at some point during my pity party I started to feel more alive. I just realized it last night. It wasn't the lightening bolt I had preconceived in my own mind. Rather it was a slow and steady build until it eventually became enough to override the aches and pains and exhaustion that I am so use to. I was laying in bed and I said to my husband, hey, I don't feel like a blob. I wasn't even that tired and I had worked on putting in my garden the entire afternoon. Normally that would send me to bed for a good 24 hours. So for any other Whole30'ers with autoimmune disease, wondering where the tiger blood is, I say you take a look at your expectations and make sure they aren't making you miss out on your own personal version of tiger's blood.

Tomorrow is my last official day and I really think I will keep going. Nothing sounds so amazing to eat that I am willing to give up feeling like a normal person. Maybe on Mother's Day I will introduce a glass of champagne. I do love good champagne. But I will see how I feel. Right now I think celebrating with a delicious grilled chicken salad that I didnt have to make sounds just as amazing!

Meal 1: Sweet potato hash

Meal 2: leftover pork loin with spaghetti squash

Meal 3: hamburger lettuce wrap topped with sautéed mushrooms & avacado, potato salad, grapes

[Sass]

So I finished my Whole 30 last week. I opted to do a slow roll reintroduction so it was more like a whole 36 for me before I had any off plan foods. It was Mother's Day and I was served mimosas, chocolate covered strawberry and gluten free pancakes in bed! Later we went for pedicures and 2 more mimosas. Soooo sweet right?! That night, into the following day, uht oh, I had tummy troubles like I had not had in a very very long time. My tummy settled after about 36 hours but I proceeded to have a headache, joint pain, brain fog and terrible fatigue. Fast forward four days later to today and I am finally a little better. I went back to eating Whole30 the next day but it has taken this long for things to finally start to clear up.

Moral of the story, do not ever off plan food bomb my system again. It is definitely not worth it. In another couple of weeks I might try ONE off plan item. But for now, I am very content eating Whole30 as my life style. So thankful for all I have learned, all the new to me foods I tried, and all the new recipes my family wants added into our regular menu. Oh and I DID loose 12lbs which is an added bonus!

[ShannonM816]

Congratulations on finishing your Whole30!

 

When you do reintroduce something else next time, try to have stuff from just one group of items in a day -- either alcohol, or dairy (if there was any in the chocolate), or non-gluten grains -- that way you know which particular thing you reacted to. In this case, it may have been the combo, or it may have been one of those things more than the other, but there's not any way to know.

[Emma]

I'm much happier sticking to the Whole30 foods and eating at home.  I am able to handle paleo baked goods and rice based things and I like to think beer isn't an issue, but I suspect beer might be a gateway drug to the foods that are triggers for me.  Alas.  And cheese and sour cream.  How I love those two things, but I'm so much healthier without.  I'm bound to go off track again, but hopefully over time, I'll have more good clean days that will help heal my gut and then I'll be able to tolerate those other things.

 

Congratulations on finishing your Whole30!  Congratulations on having a pretty nice sounding Mother's Day!!!  And, Congratulations on losing some weight!

[HLM18]

Oh my goodness they were not kidding about the crazy dreams. The last 2 nights have been full of the most random dreams. Both food related and non food. And it is so funny, I did wake up in an absolute panic thinking I licked the spoon of the cookies I was baking in my dream.

 

Congratulations to a fellow Idahoan on your completion I am currently on day 10, but had to comment on this- I had the same exact dream on day 4; making cookies for my husband and licked the dang spoon! So funny what our minds do! Congratulations again, I enjoyed reading about your journey

[Sass]

I'm much happier sticking to the Whole30 foods and eating at home.  I am able to handle paleo baked goods and rice based things and I like to think beer isn't an issue, but I suspect beer might be a gateway drug to the foods that are triggers for me.  Alas.  And cheese and sour cream.  How I love those two things, but I'm so much healthier without.  I'm bound to go off track again, but hopefully over time, I'll have more good clean days that will help heal my gut and then I'll be able to tolerate those other things.

 

Congratulations on finishing your Whole30!  Congratulations on having a pretty nice sounding Mother's Day!!!  And, Congratulations on losing some weight!

Thank you Emma! Much to my dismay, I suspect dairy is a no go for me as well. But amen to many more clean days than not going forward. More power to you in your health journey!

[Sass]

Congratulations to a fellow Idahoan on your completion I am currently on day 10, but had to comment on this- I had the same exact dream on day 4; making cookies for my husband and licked the dang spoon! So funny what our minds do! Congratulations again, I enjoyed reading about your journey

Lol so funny indeed! I found the timeline and the fact that I followed so many of the same "symptoms" helpful. I tended to look back at it a lot, both to prepare for what might be to come and to be reassured that I was on the right track. Best of luck to you on your whole30. I know you will rock it, we Idaho girls are strong!

[youngann]

Congratulations on finishing your whole30 and good luck going forward.