June 1sters Check-in

[science_n_salsa]

I just finished my last meal of day 1! Feeling pretty good. How's everybody else doing? What'd you eat today? What are your thoughts? Struggles?

I had eggs and black coffee for breakfast and this was lunch

And this was dinner

Thoughts: Black coffee is not that bad! I usually use almond milk anyway but wanted to test myself. Turns out I can handle it! Also, going to have stay on top of prepping veggies for meals ahead of time.

Struggles: mid afternoon chocolate is going to be harrrrrd to replace. Subbed in a coconut larabar today but I know technically I don't need to be replacing it. I need to kick the habit!!

Hope everyone is doing well! Stay focused and strong! We can do it!

[rachel1478]

I am in Japan so I am waking up on day 2.  I did well yesterday with only a few cravings for a soda in the afternoon and sweets before bed.  I had a bulletproof coffee in place of the soda and some fruit before bed.  Meal timing is my struggle with regular meals and pre/post workout meals.  This is not my first Whole30 but I am hoping it will be my last.  I struggle with food issues while pregnant and fell off the wagon really hard during my bedrest for my last pregnancy.  My youngest of four kids is 6 months and I am excited to get back on track and stay on the Whole30 much longer than the 30 days.  I think I need that to make it a lasting habit.  

[ShannonM816]

I just finished my last meal of day 1! Feeling pretty good. How's everybody else doing? What'd you eat today? What are your thoughts? Struggles?

I had eggs and black coffee for breakfast and this was lunch

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And this was dinner

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Thoughts: Black coffee is not that bad! I usually use almond milk anyway but wanted to test myself. Turns out I can handle it! Also, going to have stay on top of prepping veggies for meals ahead of time.

Struggles: mid afternoon chocolate is going to be harrrrrd to replace. Subbed in a coconut larabar today but I know technically I don't need to be replacing it. I need to kick the habit!!

Hope everyone is doing well! Stay focused and strong! We can do it!

 

A bigger breakfast and lunch would help a lot to get rid of the mid afternoon cravings. At breakfast, be sure you're eating as many whole eggs as you can hold in one hand (or have some eggs plus some other protein source), have 1-3 cups of vegetables, and add some fat (avocado, bacon, olives, or mayo or other sauce). At lunch, be sure you have some more substantial vegetables in your salad in addition to just the leafy greens -- those raw leafy vegetables tend to break down to nothing as you chew them, and they don't have a lot of staying power, so unless that was one huge bowl of salad, you'd probably do well to add something on the side. You could just have some roasted vegetables on the side, or add them into your salad (sweet potatoes are great in salads, as are beets), or you could fix yourself some really chunky vegetable soup to go with your salad, or you could just cook enough food at supper to have leftovers at lunch the next day -- there's all kinds of ways to do it, but increasing the size of those two meals will really impact how snacky you feel the rest of the day.

[iteach]

Thank you for this post!

 

Breakfast...scrambled eggs, bacon (healthy version), black coffee and I added Valentina salsa picante. We live in an area rich in Mexican culture so it's easy to find delicious spices. 

 

Lunch... grilled hamburger (left over from yesterday), sauted asparagus (in bacon grease...just a tablespoon though), 1/4 of an apple and a handful of salted almonds.

 

Dinner...baked chicken, asparagus, 1/2 a small avocado w/salsa picante (as mentioned above). We're also in an area where the asparagus needs to be eaten before the heat wave hits us this weekend! 

 

 

I'm tired, but it's just day 1 and it might be my body just saying it's been catching up on much needed rest! I can't wait for days 3 and 5 where the energy shows up and deep sleep happens!

[LoriJJ]

SO first day went well.  I am going to be missing the greens though!  So 

Breakfast - scrambled eggs with peppers, tomatoes and spinach.  Coffee and 24 oz of water.

Snack - red pepper and tomatoes

Lunch - 1 skewer of chicken and 1 beef.  Peach

Dinner - Chicken breast green beans and half baked potato

Might fit in  a snack of watermelon and cantaloupe later 

 

Total water at 8:30pm = 72 oz only 16 left to go!

 

Hope everyone had a great start to this journey.  It is a great time to eat healthy, all the local fruits and veggies just starting to come to market!   yum!  Remember to drink your water!

[ShannonM816]

SO first day went well.  I am going to be missing the greens though!  So 

Breakfast - scrambled eggs with peppers, tomatoes and spinach.  Coffee and 24 oz of water.

Snack - red pepper and tomatoes

Lunch - 1 skewer of chicken and 1 beef.  Peach

Dinner - Chicken breast green beans and half baked potato

Might fit in  a snack of watermelon and cantaloupe later 

 

Total water at 8:30pm = 72 oz only 16 left to go!

 

Hope everyone had a great start to this journey.  It is a great time to eat healthy, all the local fruits and veggies just starting to come to market!   yum!  Remember to drink your water!

 

Hi, LoriJJ.

 

For your snacks, if you need them, have a mini-meal of protein, fat, and vegetables, or at least two of the three. Keep in mind that when you get your meals sized right, you should be able to go 4-5 hours between meals without needing to snack, so if you're hungry before that time, you need to increase your meal sizes.

 

Don't forget to add fat to your meals, in addition to what you cook in. Fat will really help keep you satisfied between meals.

[Fat Cyclist]

So, all went well until dinner time. The grass fed ground beef I took out of the freezer yesterday morning was still half frozen in the fridge by dinner time. I had planned to make stuffed bell peppers, sans the rice, and a salad. Rummaged around in the pantry and had a can of wild caught sardines. Added that to the salad, added some Japanese kimchi for good measure, and finished off with a peach for dessert.

Today, I have boiled a dozen eggs and going out later to buy a bag of skinless and boneless chicken breasts and bake all of them. I won't be caught out with not ready for prime time protein again!

[iteach]

Sounds like everyone's doing well. 

 

I appreciate the information being shared. It's a great reminder to add fats and eat enough protein and other foods until I'm full at each meal. Also the planning ahead is definitely something I need to do as well. 

 

Working on day 2. Not as tired as I was yesterday, but that might be because I'm getting my groove on to enjoy my summer break.

 

I'm anxiously awaiting for days 3 and 5...or was it 7 when the sleeping lion turns in to a roaring tiger?

[aresnik]

First day went well.  Daughter and I started together.  Bunch of eggs along with fruit and a big salad made the day go well. 

 

Much more tired on this second day but I believe it is from the lack of sugar, which is a good thing.  Lots of water intake is helping.

[Italodude]

i started yesterday after bkfast (had to finish the last of my gluten free bread & gluten free granola)

nightime was the most challenging w/out my bluecorn chips or potato chips to snack on

being able to have coffee is a godsend..i quit smoking and drinking two years ago this march so i don't have those vices to challenge me..and have been gluten & dairy free two years (except for goatsmilk no allergies) due to 4 bouts of lymes disease in 2 years from life upstate in the northeast of ny.

am grateful to give this a chance to re-start.

thank you,

giovanni

[heytrace]

I'm on Day 2 today! Felt great yesterday, and basically bounced out of bed, I was so excited to start. Today's breakfast was Nom Nom Paleo's Kalua Pig with sweet potato and two eggs, with some Bulletproof coffee (ghee, coconut oil, collagen). Lunch ended up being grapes, coconut butter, and 12ish macadamia nuts; I left my lunch on the counter at home (ARGH) and this is what I had at work. Dinner is going to be ground pork and apples sauteed together, with a bunch of sauteed spinach and some sauerkraut on the side. 

 

I'm really tired today, but I think that's also partially due to a big storm rolling through last night. Zzzzzzzzz.

[science_n_salsa]

Day two down! I added avocado to my breakfast at 7:15 and didn't get hungry until about 1:30!! Still had a larabar for afternoon snack though. Noticed I felt pretty tired this afternoon I ate. So here's my breakdown of meals...

B:2 cups black coffee and 3 eggs scrambled with bell peppers broccoli and sweet potatoes. Topped with hot sauce and avocado.

L:leftover steak and sweet potatoes topped with homemade guac. An apple and almonds

S:cup black coffee and banana nut bread larabar

D:seared chicken topped with chopped avocado, cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Side of roasted cauliflower

How's everybody else doing?

[SugarcubeOD]

 Still had a larabar for afternoon snack though. 

Was this because you were hungry or because you are used to having something with your afternoon coffee?  If you're hungry, it's okay to eat, just make it protein and fat or protein and veggies or ideally all three... the litmus test for hungry is 'would you eat steamed fish and broccoli'.  If so, eat... if not, nope.

[iteach]

Day 3... Fatigue is real. Definitely like the hangover on the timeline 

 

I'm also a scale addict. I hid the scale and it's a mental struggle to want to weigh in. Trying to focus on my goals of a healthy life style that will come with weight loss.

 

 the litmus test for hungry is 'would you eat steamed fish and broccoli'.  If so, eat... if not, nope.

Thanks for this reminder. I deal with head hunger..a lot. 

[SugarcubeOD]

Day 3... Fatigue is real. Definitely like the hangover on the timeline 

 

I'm also a scale addict. I hid the scale and it's a mental struggle to want to weigh in. Trying to focus on my goals of a healthy life style that will come with weight loss.

 

Thanks for this reminder. I deal with head hunger..a lot. 

Head hunger is a bugger but part of the Whole30 is to learn to recognize the difference between head and tummy hunger... the freedom of being able to dismiss head hunger at the end of your 30 days is so wonderful... keep at it!  You can do it!  The fact you even have a name for it means you're ahead of the game!

Try some water, a quick walk around the office, a bath, brushing your teeth... lots of ways to bounce yourself out of that craving...

[JenWills]

Beginning day three here.  I've not ever really been an egg in the morning person, so the amount of eggs is a little tough.  Usually I would do a small bowl of cereal, some nonfat milk, and a piece of fruit with coffee (with a ton of vanilla cream).  I need to get a little more creative with the breakfast and cook up some potatoes in advance to mix with maybe a poached egg.  To curb it a little I had an apple with almond butter, a handful of almonds, and a half a banana.  

 

For lunch I'm planning greens with tuna, carrot, avocado, cauliflower a little cooked, and oil w/ apple cider vinegar.  

 

I've got some really nice salmon for dinner.

 

I think the biggest weird feeling is eating the fat, you know?  For so long I've avoided fat and gone for grains instead.  I'm noticing, though, that the hunger is not as bad.  I don't get REALLY hungry and want to eat something crappy from Starbuck's.  

 

My energy is a little down today, but I know I've relied a lot on sugar in the past.  

 

Keep on keepin' on, everyone!

 

Jen

[SugarcubeOD]

Beginning day three here.  I've not ever really been an egg in the morning person, so the amount of eggs is a little tough.  Usually I would do a small bowl of cereal, some nonfat milk, and a piece of fruit with coffee (with a ton of vanilla cream).  I need to get a little more creative with the breakfast and cook up some potatoes in advance to mix with maybe a poached egg.  To curb it a little I had an apple with almond butter, a handful of almonds, and a half a banana.  

You don't need to eat eggs for breakfast (or ever) if you don't want to... you can eat any food you would eat at any other time of the day for breakfast.

I'm concerned about 'a poached egg' because that's not very much food... eggs when your sole source of protein are as many as you can hold in your hand without dropping... if you dont' want that many eggs, mix in some other kind of protein.  The fact that you're having to have apple, almond butter, almonds and a banana tells me you're not eating enough... which could be the reason for your sinking energy.

Nuts and their butters are meant to be limited to one serving every other day at most and fruit will keep your sugar cravings alive and well so make sure you're not relying more on fruit and nut butters than properly formed meals including fat, protein and veggies.

[JenWills]

Thanks for the advice.  I think I'm still struggling with the idea of not needing breakfast for breakfast.    I will drop in some other forms of protein for breakfast and mix it up by making enough dinner for my first meal the next day.  That's a great measurement system for the eggs!

 

Jen

[iteach]

Head hunger is a bugger but part of the Whole30 is to learn to recognize the difference between head and tummy hunger... the freedom of being able to dismiss head hunger at the end of your 30 days is so wonderful... keep at it!  You can do it!  The fact you even have a name for it means you're ahead of the game!

Try some water, a quick walk around the office, a bath, brushing your teeth... lots of ways to bounce yourself out of that craving...

Thanks for the ideas! Head hunger really is BIG bugger. I'd like to call it a different name.

 

Glad to know there's folks still here.

 

I'm 

[science_n_salsa]

3rd day done. So.Very.Tired. I feel like I have sat in a fog going "Duhhhhhhh." all day long. A bit cranky too. Snapped at my daughter at dinner. Can not WAIT to crawl into bed. Food wise, I stayed on track today. Even successfully navigated restaurant fare for a birthday dinner. Just so tired.

[Suzibeck]

Day 3:  I had to drive my daughter 100 miles away to meet a friend.  We got there earlier than the friend and I was shopping when the friend arrived so my daughter took my keys and went and got her stuff out of the van and then brought the keys back to me and left with her friend.  I got back in the van and shook the cup there, thinking it was my water.  There was still ice so I took a swig and discovered it was my daughter's pop!  It was mostly melted ice but it was sweet, gah!  Oh well.  I may go longer at the end now to make up for this slip up.  

 

Otherwise, I'm doing well.  I'm probably eating too many nuts for my protein.  I'm not a big fan of meat and eggs get tiring.  I did hard boil two dozen eggs before I started.  Any other good sources of protein?  I've had tuna salad (gag) and I will be making chicken salad soon.  I have egg and avocado salad for tomorrow.  I need to make some sausage tomorrow, sausage stuffed sweet potatoes sound good.  I think I'm doing well with my veggie intake, it is hard though.  I prefer them raw and that is a lot of chewing! Today, I made a blended salad with rainbow salad mix, avocado, pine nuts and flax seed oil.  Nothing sweet so I'm thinking it would be OK, unlike a smoothie.  

 

After my little sugar mix up, I started craving for the first time in these 3 days.  I want chocolate!  I expect the cravings will get worse and probably the sleepiness too, which hasn't been any worse than usual yet.  I have a super busy week next week with 3 days sitting in a conference, which is always tiring.  That will be a challenge.  

[ShannonM816]

 Any other good sources of protein?  I've had tuna salad (gag) and I will be making chicken salad soon.  I have egg and avocado salad for tomorrow.  I need to make some sausage tomorrow, sausage stuffed sweet potatoes sound good.  I think I'm doing well with my veggie intake, it is hard though.  I prefer them raw and that is a lot of chewing! Today, I made a blended salad with rainbow salad mix, avocado, pine nuts and flax seed oil.  Nothing sweet so I'm thinking it would be OK, unlike a smoothie.  

 

Branch out some -- if you aren't a huge fan of meat, you can do lots of different kinds of fish and shellfish. Mel Joulwan's site and Nom Nom Paleo both have quite a few fish recipes.   I love these oven fried salmon cakes myself. You can even find different recipes for eggs -- something like this egg foo young-ish or these comfort noodles might be a nice change.

[Suzibeck]

Branch out some -- if you aren't a huge fan of meat, you can do lots of different kinds of fish and shellfish. Mel Joulwan's site and Nom Nom Paleo both have quite a few fish recipes.   I love these oven fried salmon cakes myself. You can even find different recipes for eggs -- something like this egg foo young-ish or these comfort noodles might be a nice change.

Thanks, Shannon!  The comfort noodles look yummy.  I need to learn how to cook fish and find some cheap somewhere as our grocery budget is tiny.  Heading to Farmer's Market in a bit and then ALDI. I plan on making a bunch of turkey sausage today and then browning it so it will be easy to toss onto whatever else I'm eating.  3 eggs and bunch of broccoli for breakfast. 

 

ETA: I own Nom Nom Paleo, pulling it out again today!

[iteach]

Good morning (or afternoon)! Day 4!

 

Breakfast....sausage and diced sweet potatoes, black coffee, 1/4 of a banana and 2 small strawberries---my dogs got the other 1/4 while my husband got the other 1/2. 

 

Lunch...shredded chicken salad, mayo, avocado, 1 small chopped apple, tomato, fresh lettuce from the garden, vinegar dressing, chai tea

 

Dinner...chicken/bacon wrapped and asparagus, all grilled.

 

 

Being that it's day 4, leg pains during the night are subsiding.

 

I've been walking about 1.5 miles to exercise each day, and I've been wearing my FitBit at night for the past few nights to see if there's a different in my sleep patterns from previous weeks...just for fun. I used to be restless or awake about 5 to 8 times during the night. My anxiety and fatigue were horrible---and it was during the school year. The past 3 nights show that I've only been restless about 2-3 times and without being awake. 

 

Cheers to day 4!

[Gwennyp]

Today I realized I was able to squat down on the floor and get back up without having any knee pain or needing to push myself up with my hands. First time in about ten years! It could be the lack of soy, wheat, gluten, or dairy or any of the other garbage that's now out of my diet. I just can't believe I had this kind of result in five days!