Starting Whole 30 on September 5th

[MalinHillevi]

Today (day 17) I've had this:

M1: scrambled eggs (in a hurry so I forgot to add tomatoes or any veg :-0

M2: leftover lemon pepper chicken, baked veg, olives

snack: a banana when I got home because I was getting kinda hungry but I wanted to take a brisk walk before sundown, beautiful weather!

M3: pig-in-a-skillet, i.e. fried some (too much, because I'm *very* full now) Kalua pulled pork with some smoked ham, added two eggs, broke the yolks, flipped over and fried the other side too. Tomatoes, olives, and sauerkraut.

On the whole I'm doing fine but getting slightly bored with the food. I haven't had enough time to plan variety... So: delish but same same same.

[Quilter]

Just as I was completing my weekly food prep on Sunday, I was surprised with 6 out-of town visitors that stayed for 3 days!  "Yay!" to see them - but "Boo!" they disturbed my comfortable little Whole30 bubble!  (I guess real-life had to intervene at some point!) I was glad I had made myself delicious meals, but all that wonderful food got gobbled up in no time - even though I stretched the meals with the noncompliant food I had stashed away!  It was difficult to have them eating the other food at my table, but I stayed true.  (I know I could have served only Whole30 fare, but I just didn't have enough food!)  Now that the guests are gone, I need to regroup and reread all of the motivational info to remind myself why I am on this journey.

AND they left me with a souvenir - a sore throat and the possible beginings of the very bad cold they were all sharing - Wasn't that nice?!  (And the lozenges and cough syrups they left behind have sugar in them.)  I did have some wonderful bone broth in the freezer that I've pulled out to help sooth my throat.  Hopefully between the broth and two weeks of healthy eating, I've given enough of a boost to my immune system to head this cold off.  Fingers crossed.  

[No more muffins]

DAY 17

Feeling Better!  Thanks for all the words of encouragement.  I had eggs and compliant bacon today for breakfast.  No time for veggies.  Bacon was delish!  It should be for $7 for a small package.  Was not tempted today, except when I drove by starbucks, so I drove by really fast.  LOL.  I am a little nervous for weekend as I am having minor surgery on Friday and will be a little laid up without using 1 arm.  I am hoping to prepare a few things tomorrow.  

Favorites so far:

Kahula pork with mashed cauliflower

Eggs Benedict over sauteed mushrooms and spinach

Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles

Asian vinaigrette dressing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mistyfire]

Zoodles and meatballs for breakfast. Before W30, that would never have crossed my mind. Now I eat meals much more to what I have and what I want.  Also I note that I have much less trash ( less packaging). I used to do a refrigerator clean out before my grocery shopping- that would be what to throw out as spoiled because I just never got around to eating it. Now my clean out is putting together a meal of perhaps unusual combinations to make room for new. I love that I'm buying food that I actually eat as opposed to buying what I think would be good for me and then tossing it. 

[FranE]

Ate out last night-in a part of town where there are no great restaurant choices-and just about stayed compliant. Was in a restaurant/sports bar. Managed to get sliced ahi tuna sandwich (hold the bread) with sliced avocado, tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. Not bad. Ate the sweet potato fries. Asked what they were fried in (canola oil). Sometimes, I think it's ok to just about stay compliant. 

This morning-chicken sausages, Swiss chard, mushrooms, sweet pepper, beets. 

[JamieMathis]

2 hours ago, FranE said:

Ate out last night-in a part of town where there are no great restaurant choices-and just about stayed compliant. Was in a restaurant/sports bar. Managed to get sliced ahi tuna sandwich (hold the bread) with sliced avocado, tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. Not bad. Ate the sweet potato fries. Asked what they were fried in (canola oil). Sometimes, I think it's ok to just about stay compliant. 

This morning-chicken sausages, Swiss chard, mushrooms, sweet pepper, beets. 

 

I agree about the just about compliant -- last weekend my husband and I went on a motorcycle trip that included overnight camping.  This was in a VERY small town in Wyoming with one restaurant.  We ended up not eating at the restaurant and riding 20 miles to another almost-as-small town to eat.  I ordered a grilled chicken salad, hold the croutons, hold the dressing.  Neglected to say, "hold the cheese".  I spend a lot of time picking around the shredded cheese and finally just gave up and stopped eating.  I was not hungry anymore anyway.  I may have eaten a few tiny pieces of shredded cheese, but I just about stayed compliant.  Later, back at camp, I ate some of my emergency, totally compliant food -- carrots and guac, a squeeze pack of applesauce (compliant), a hard boiled egg.  I'm not sure about other parts of the country -- but in small town Wyoming there is very little that is Whole30 compliant.  :-)

Day 18 already....  hoping to feel more energy; I'm feeling burned out and tired!  Not sure why.  :-(

[kindergartencowgirl]

On 09/21/2016 at 0:55 PM, Quilter said:

Just as I was completing my weekly food prep on Sunday, I was surprised with 6 out-of town visitors that stayed for 3 days!  "Yay!" to see them - but "Boo!" they disturbed my comfortable little Whole30 bubble!  (I guess real-life had to intervene at some point!) I was glad I had made myself delicious meals, but all that wonderful food got gobbled up in no time - even though I stretched the meals with the noncompliant food I had stashed away!  It was difficult to have them eating the other food at my table, but I stayed true.  (I know I could have served only Whole30 fare, but I just didn't have enough food!)  Now that the guests are gone, I need to regroup and reread all of the motivational info to remind myself why I am on this journey.

AND they left me with a souvenir - a sore throat and the possible beginings of the very bad cold they were all sharing - Wasn't that nice?!  (And the lozenges and cough syrups they left behind have sugar in them.)  I did have some wonderful bone broth in the freezer that I've pulled out to help sooth my throat.  Hopefully between the broth and two weeks of healthy eating, I've given enough of a boost to my immune system to head this cold off.  Fingers crossed.  

I had a sore throat and cough / aches just two days in to my W30.  I took apple cider vinegar in water 2x a day and it worked like a charm!  Just a healthy "glug" of cider vinegar (I used Braggs) in a mason jar of water.  Took my sore throat away immediately and reduced my other symptoms by 1/3 - husband had the same thing and it lasted a week.

[kindergartencowgirl]

Day 18 and I feel ah - may - zzzzing.

I am wearing pants today that I have not had on for... months.  Possibly a year.  Yesterday, same thing, pulled on some jeans that have been hanging in the closet for oh way too long!  Winning!!!

My food has, admittedly, been pretty basic.  HB eggs with veg in the morning, mason jar salads for lunch, grilled or steamed protein with more veg for dinner.  1/2 avo or a healthy dose of homemade mayo for fat.  Occasional fruit and nut combo with meals.  Just too busy to bother with much else.  BUT I can honestly say I have had NO cravings for my regular go to's... sugar and alcohol.  Not sure why, but I'll take it.

I can't say my energy has been super duper, but I am more alert and focused.  And just generally happier in a calm attentive way.

It works when you really work it.

[WholeMamma]

4 hours ago, kindergartencowgirl said:

Day 18 and I feel ah - may - zzzzing.

I am wearing pants today that I have not had on for... months.  Possibly a year.  Yesterday, same thing, pulled on some jeans that have been hanging in the closet for oh way too long!  Winning!!!

My food has, admittedly, been pretty basic.  HB eggs with veg in the morning, mason jar salads for lunch, grilled or steamed protein with more veg for dinner.  1/2 avo or a healthy dose of homemade mayo for fat.  Occasional fruit and nut combo with meals.  Just too busy to bother with much else.  BUT I can honestly say I have had NO cravings for my regular go to's... sugar and alcohol.  Not sure why, but I'll take it.

I can't say my energy has been super duper, but I am more alert and focused.  And just generally happier in a calm attentive way.

It works when you really work it.

So happy for you!!! I agree on simple meals, mine aren't fancy but I follow the template and haven't had any cravings since the first couple days. Glad your clothes are fitting better too, bonus!

[Bellad]

I haven't been posting but I'm still hanging in there.  I'm finally getting to the point where it's feeling normal to be preparing all this food for myself.  I made some Swedish meatballs out of ground turkey, the sauce made with coconut milk and chicken broth, thickened with some arrowroot.  Amazingly delicious and decadent, but not really all that decadent.  My first experience thickening with arrowroot.  I didn't know it wouldn't keep.  But the reheated thinner sauce still tastes delicious.

Another success was very simple.  I coated a giant boneless, skinless chicken breast with olive oil, then sprinkled it with lemon pepper (I have a compliant one) and salt.  Then put it in a small au gratin dish, covered it with foil and baked it.  So simple, but the chicken was amazing, moist and flavorful.  I ate most of it sliced and cold, though heated the last bit in the juices with a half a leftover baked potato, and that was good as well.  Made lots of steamed veggies.  Steamed some organic brussel sprouts (which are insanely expensive and I usually won’t buy them, but they have them in the farmer’s box I signed up for) and tossed them with ghee, salt and pepper, and they were delicious, not overcooked.  And some green beans.  Also made some yummy kale salad with avocado mashed into it with my bare hands.  Have gotten my baked fritatta down, have figured out the perfect proportions to fill my large pyrex pie dish that fits in my toaster oven.  Finally tried mashed cauliflower.  O.M.G.  I could eat that day and night.

And yes, some days I’ve wanted anything but this food I’m learning to so carefully prepare.  One day I wanted cookies really badly.  Realized it wasn’t the sugar but the crunch I wanted, and I ended up making some broccoli slaw from the bag you buy at Trader Joe’s—and the crunch of that seemed to really help.  Along with the bit of sweetness from the dried cranberries.  Happily the ones in bulk I buy are compliant, sweetened with apple juice.

Curious what I’m going to do when this is over.  I’m wondering if I shouldn’t keep going for another month.  I feel all the things we’re avoiding are not compatible with me, and overall the strictness is starting to make a difference.

[No more muffins]

DAY 19

Having minor surgery this am.  (to remove my port...cancer free 1 year).  No food or drink.  I am a little worried as when it was put in,  my arm was so sore for days.  Right arm too, couldn't really move it for anything.  Yesterday was tough for a glass of wine.  Then saw a delicious scotch ale on the counter.  I held it, smelled it and even put my lips to the beer.  Still compliant.    We have an amazing grape festival every year and its filled with food and wine.  Its this weekend.  Probably a good thing I will be out of commission.

Have a great day everyone!

[Mistyfire]

19 minutes ago, No more muffins said:

DAY 19

Having minor surgery this am.  (to remove my port...cancer free 1 year).  No food or drink.  I am a little worried as when it was put in,  my arm was so sore for days.  Right arm too, couldn't really move it for anything.  Yesterday was tough for a glass of wine.  Then saw a delicious scotch ale on the counter.  I held it, smelled it and even put my lips to the beer.  Still compliant.    We have an amazing grape festival every year and its filled with food and wine.  Its this weekend.  Probably a good thing I will be out of commission.

Have a great day everyone!

There's no better way to celebrate your one year anniversary than with more good things that make and keep you healthy. Congrats!

[Seafarer]

On ‎2016‎-‎09‎-‎20 at 9:00 AM, Catlover said:

I almost didn't buy the 2nd pepper, and this light popped on, "how many times have I paid $2 for a soda and a junky snack from the vending machine at work?"

 

Words to live by! Thank you.

[Seafarer]

Feeling blah yesterday & today, so I reviewed:

1. My jeans feel looser, and my thigh-high boots are definitely looser.

2. One of my goals was to find more go-to meals that would support my (desired) W30 lifestyle. I have a separate booklet where I write them down. I flipped through it & re-discovered several that I had forgotten about & am excited to try. I made two of them today. Food boredom... poof!

3. I juiced some grapes from my garden, added the juice to club soda. Pow! I like it better'n wine. Really. Great addition to my water too. 

4. I started going to a community exercise class a couple of weeks ago. I adore the people I am meeting, and the exercise makes me feel energized. I have needed "PostWO-type" meals before, due to activity levels, but to have one following real-live targeted exercise? Win!

5. Food costs: I am a pain-in-the-butt keeper of detailed financial records & budgets, so I already knew this, but I like looking at numbers so I did it anyway. Add up your old grocery bill, your out-of-pocket ice cream cones, lattes, doughnuts, potato chips, your occasional dips into bring-it-home-and-eat-it-instead-of-food indulgences like cookies & pizza, add in your old fast food plus restaurant dining.... compare that total to your current grocery bill.... ya gotta know this way is actually cheaper, right? Or at least very close.

6. Last year when I did a W30 my relative was dismissive in spite of her own gastrointestinal issues which have now lasted for a year & a half. Her new GI specialist has put her on... guess what?! Score one for keeping my mouth shut. Score 100 for having favourite recipes to pass along to her.

And that pretty much took care of the blahs.  

 

[Quilter]

I always cook my bacon in the oven, but tonight I left the drippings in the pan and roasted cauliflower in it - yummy!  It feels wrong to cook in bacon grease because bacon was always taboo, but if it makes cauliflower taste this good - I'll get over feeling guilty!

[WholeMamma]

4 hours ago, Quilter said:

I always cook my bacon in the oven, but tonight I left the drippings in the pan and roasted cauliflower in it - yummy!  It feels wrong to cook in bacon grease because bacon was always taboo, but if it makes cauliflower taste this good - I'll get over feeling guilty!

Mmmm that sounds good! Haven't tried cooking cauliflower in bacon grease, just brussel sprouts, will have to try that next!

[Cannylassy]

I did sweet potato fries in bacon drippings the other day. So good. 

 

Day 20, I think? Still going. I feel amazing, doing so much, but I'm exhausted by 5pm and then drop again at 9.30. I have college from 5-9, so I need to organise myself better. I bought well fed 2 yesterday and downloaded the taster pdf for well fed weeknights, which gave me some impetus. I have chicken shwarma marinading for dinner tonight. Lunch is a jacket potato with tuna mayo (or possibly just tuna salad.) Breakfast was egg, home fries, sausage, mushroom and tomatoes with some of my homemade ketchup. Last night was chicken tikka masala. I tried cauliflower rice for the first time; can't be bothered to do it again. I'll just stick to serving curry alongside roasted veggies in future. 

The one thing I'm struggling with is gravy. I want good, thick, rich, onion gravy  

[FranE]

1 hour ago, Cannylassy said:

 

The one thing I'm struggling with is gravy. I want good, thick, rich, onion gravy  

NomNom Paleo has a couple of good gravy recipes

[FranE]

13 hours ago, Seafarer said:

Feeling blah yesterday & today, so I reviewed:

1. My jeans feel looser, and my thigh-high boots are definitely looser.

2. One of my goals was to find more go-to meals that would support my (desired) W30 lifestyle. I have a separate booklet where I write them down. I flipped through it & re-discovered several that I had forgotten about & am excited to try. I made two of them today. Food boredom... poof!

3. I juiced some grapes from my garden, added the juice to club soda. Pow! I like it better'n wine. Really. Great addition to my water too. 

4. I started going to a community exercise class a couple of weeks ago. I adore the people I am meeting, and the exercise makes me feel energized. I have needed "PostWO-type" meals before, due to activity levels, but to have one following real-live targeted exercise? Win!

5. Food costs: I am a pain-in-the-butt keeper of detailed financial records & budgets, so I already knew this, but I like looking at numbers so I did it anyway. Add up your old grocery bill, your out-of-pocket ice cream cones, lattes, doughnuts, potato chips, your occasional dips into bring-it-home-and-eat-it-instead-of-food indulgences like cookies & pizza, add in your old fast food plus restaurant dining.... compare that total to your current grocery bill.... ya gotta know this way is actually cheaper, right? Or at least very close.

6. Last year when I did a W30 my relative was dismissive in spite of her own gastrointestinal issues which have now lasted for a year & a half. Her new GI specialist has put her on... guess what?! Score one for keeping my mouth shut. Score 100 for having favourite recipes to pass along to her.

And that pretty much took care of the blahs.  

 

What a great idea to make a list! I'm inspired. . .

[AnnieW]

Happy day 20!  That just sounds so much better, it's downhill from here!  I've been having the strangest dreams lately.  Last night I dreamed I went to the gym but forgot my shoes and  had to sit and watch everyone else exercise!  I've also had food dreams that involve things I would never crave in real life. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

[Whole_K8]

10 hours ago, Cannylassy said:

I did sweet potato fries in bacon drippings the other day. So good. 

 

 

The one thing I'm struggling with is gravy. I want good, thick, rich, onion gravy  

I made nom nom paleo's weeknight roasted chicken, and the pan gravy recipe was really amazing. The recipe was on her website. I saved the leftovers in a mason jar in the fridge and have been using it as a sauce. Sooo good.

[Riya]

Glad to see so many still onboard :).  I am too, just been running too many different directions.  Still having an issue with eating enough.  I'm hungry enough, but my prep work has left a lot to be desired.  But I have no plans tomorrow beyond grocery store, food prep & laundry, so I hope to start getting some energy soon.  I have been going to bed a bit earlier, so that's something. 

The eczema on my had has flared up again, so I'm going to have to start experimenting.  Maybe nightshades?  That will be depressing, but I have been eating a lot of tomato's lately, when I wasn't when it started clearing up at first. 

One thing I've noticed is that I'm handling stress better.  This past week was some heavy work stuff, but I was able to keep a good attitude about it, and even got my over-serious, read into everything boss to laugh at it a few times.  And then he approved a Vegas trip for me for November. 

Digestive issues are also better.  Not completely eradicated, but much less frequent, and a lot less painful.  That's a HUGE win!

I'm really looking forward to W30FFF coming out.  I'm torn about being in the last third of this.  A big part of me is ready for it to be over, so I can loosen up a bit and try my raw dairy again.  But at the same time, I'm afraid I'm going to go careening off a cliff like I did last time.  I'm really anxious to learn strategies to keep that from happening.

[Mistyfire]

Horseradish- how did I ever forget you!

I was cooking steak tonight and began thinking about a side condiment I used to make out of sour cream and horseradish. I stopped dairy after my first W30 a year and a half ago - reintros showed me dairy was not my friend.  So I thought maybe I could make it out of mayo. Googled "whole 30 horseradish" and came upon this wonderful link: http://whole30.com/2014/08/mayo-ghee-sauces/

Horseradish and mayo in less than a minute- so, so good. And I'll be trying some of the others, too - so easy and that's what I'm needing these days!

[FranE]

Not a great couple of days. Everything compliant, but too much unnecessary snacking.  This really is my big challenge. Snacking into the evening undoes a lot of the good stuff and, I think, affects my sleep. 

This is the reset I need to figure out. I've been eating paleo for a couple of years and don't miss many things. (Plus, I can make swypo versions of most things when I'm not on W30). But, the snacking. . .

Anyway, my Nom Nom Paleo cookbook arrived yesterday. What an attractive cookbook! Lots of good ideas. 

[FranE]

2 hours ago, FranE said:

Not a great couple of days. Everything compliant, but too much unnecessary snacking.  This really is my big challenge. Snacking into the evening undoes a lot of the good stuff and, I think, affects my sleep. 

This is the reset I need to figure out. I've been eating paleo for a couple of years and don't miss many things. (Plus, I can make swypo versions of most things when I'm not on W30). But, the snacking. . .

Anyway, my Nom Nom Paleo cookbook arrived yesterday. What an attractive cookbook! Lots of good ideas. 

OMG! Just read my daily W30 email and it's all about this- the challenge of creating new habits.