What better way to start my 50th year than with Whole30?

[BarbaraM]

Hello, Whole30 Community who happens to read this.  :-)  I started my Whole30 yesterday, and so far it's going pretty well.  I don't feel bad (but maybe that's because I still have sugar in me from my 50th birthday cake that I had a couple of times in the days before starting??)  But I'm telling myself that I'm going to have good days. It's all in the attitude, right??

My quick background is that I have been overweight for years, losing it, then gaining it back.  I also had to start taking blood pressure medication about 1 1/2 years ago.  I'm ready for what will hopefully be a permanent change.  My goal is to do the Whole30, then continue with a Whole30 lifestyle, with the occasional indulgence of whatever.  And of course, that will depend on how my body reacts to it, when I start reintroducing foods.  Some foods may not be worth it!  

I have also been swimming laps at a health club lately.  I've gotten slightly out of the habit, but once I'm "situated", I'll get back in a regular habit.

Ok - my food diary

Day 1 - scrambled eggs w/red pepper, onions and mushrooms, leftoever grilled chicken, black coffee///Mexican tuna boats, red pepper dipped in guacamole///chicken cacciatore served over baby spinach

Day 2 - scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, strawberries, black coffee///leftover tuna boats, red pepper///slow cooker roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions

That's about it for now.  Looking forward to my results in 30 days!!

[BarbaraM]

Day 3 is going well so far - I had 2 fried eggs, Paleo friendly bacon, and strawberries for breakfast. I am at a homeschool co-op that serves lunch, and I ordered the salad, but didn't get the chicken until I read the bag.  I'm glad I did, because it is frozen pre-seasoned chicken, and it had quite a few things I couldn't have.

My one "concern" is that I haven't had any "symptoms" yet - no headache, no fatigue, etc.  I am kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop - ha!  Anyone else not had any symptoms this early??

Barb

[Wendy and Frankie]

Congrats, Barbara, for making an excellent choice to take charge of your health.  I'm about the same age as you, having turned 51 in July.  My husband (who's 58) is also doing a Whole 30 with me right now.  This is our 3rd one, the first in Feb. 2016, and then again in May 2016.  We both saw great results in our first 2 W30's.  We both lost weight, and my husband's blood pressure and cholesterol levels were much improved.  He is at risk for diabetes since his dad had it, and he is also a bit overweight.  I'm not overweight this time (I was before going on the 1st W30), just want to get back on track to healthy habits.  

    The first time, I had severe headaches due to caffeine withdrawal and sugar withdrawal.  I just don't care for coffee without my sugary creamer, so I just had black tea, which didn't give me the caffeine kick that coffee did. I tried it with almond and coconut milk, but just don't care for it that way.  I also had a stressful couple of weeks during my first W30 job-wise, then got bronchitis half-way through, so my first W30 was not all that enjoyable.  The second one went much better as I was feeling better health and stress-wise.  I made several of the recipes in the Whole 30 book, and some we love so much we make them even when not on the program.  The spaghetti squash with homemade tomato sauce is our favorite, and I also love the chili recipe.  Your meals so far sound yummy and creative.  Good luck!

Wendy

[BarbaraM]

Thanks so much for your reply, Wendy!  This is long overdue, truly going towards a hopefully permanent healthy eating life-style. I'm a little concerned that I haven't had any headaches, in that it might be bad in a few days, but I'm going with it! Thanks for the spaghetti squash recommendation.  I think I've only made spaghetti squash once, and that was a loooong time ago.  Time to expand food horizons!!! :-)

I am slowly reducing the caffeine in my coffee.  I started before the Whole30.  I am about to 1/3 caffeinated, and I'm sure when I go to take it all out I might have a headache for a day or so.  I was caffeine free for years (except for the occasional soft drink here and there), so I hope to get back to it soon.  Plus that will help my blood pressure.

Soooo, while I'm posting - my latest food diary

Day 3 Dinner - leftover chicken cacciatore over baby spinach

Day 4 - Woke up feeling fine - even woke up a little early! - scrambled eggs with tomato and fresh basil, skillet potatoes with green pepper, onion, and rosemary, black coffee, and strawberries///leftover roast, plain lettuce salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

[BarbaraM]

I'm a few days late in posting, but late is better than never, right?

I've been doing well at staying compliant with my foods.  Day 4 - I forgot what I had for lunch Saturday, but Saturday night we did go to Chipotle.  I looked on their website and it looks like they are pretty Whole30 compliant.  I got lettuce, carnitas, guacamole, and pico de gallo.  I had read a thread here from a few years ago where Chipotle did use some soy oil to cook things, but now it looks like that isn't the case.  Here is a link to their allergen menu:   https://chipotle.com/allergens

Day 5 kitchen sink scrambled eggs///sweet potato soup, salad with grilled chicken///ate at Jason's Deli (salad bar).  I have discovered that I need to find another dressing besides balsamic vinegar.  I put that and olive oil on top, but I need to make some more dressings.  I've made the Ranch in the Whole30 cookbook (YUM!), and I need to try more.

Day 6 - paleo friendly bacon, fried eggs with salsa on top, black coffee///leftover sweet potato soup and chicken cacciatore///salmon patties with avocado dill sauce on top, roasted brussels sprout, and cucumber with olive oil, basil, and s&p on top.

Day 7 - so far - scrambled eggs with pepper, onion, mushrooms, and spinach in them, chicken sausage, black coffee -- that's all so far.  :-)

I must say I'm still feeling well, although I just read where someone woke up on Day 7 and felt like crap.  Praying that doesn't happen to me, although I'd be a little surprised since I was definitely on the SAD diet before, and eating ok, but not super healthy.  Today I even woke up around 5 when my hubby got up, then stayed in bed and got up at 5:30.  I do NOT get up that early.  But I had my 7 hours, and maybe I'm starting to get a little more energy?  

Although right now, I'm tired and it's only 11:15.  But I have done quite a bit of cooking and other things this morning.  

Ok, maybe TMI time here, but my poops have also changed.  They are now kind of skinny.  I'm guessing there is less because I'm not putting so much junk in my body and that I'm absorbing good nutrients.

Well, I'm off for now....

Barb - Day 7  (WOOT!)

[Jager07]

Great job, Barbara!  Your first week and you're doing an amazing job.

I didn't have any of the headaches/crappy feeling either.  I didn't cut out coffee, but switched out sugar free creamer with lots chemicals for coconut oil. 

Wish you a ton of success! 

[BarbaraM]

Finishing Day 7 - stuffed green pepper for lunch//whole30 friendly marinated grilled chicken, roasted potatoes with garlic, steamed green beans

Day 8 - still feeling good!! Maybe a little tired, but still good.  Meal 1 (trying to rethink the breakfast thing) - salmon patties with homemade guacamole on top//leftover sweet potato soup, salad with grilled chicken on top and whole30 ranch dressing

Our 16 year old daughter started her Whole30 yesterday, and she is enjoying it so far.  Hopefully it will help kickstart her into healthy eating habits, too.  :-)

[BarbaraM]

Day 8 continued - lunch - bleah, honestly don't remember, but it was Whole30 friendly.  Dinner - stuffed pepper before going off to work.

Day 9 - scrambled eggs with veggies//Chipotle - lettuce, guac, carnitas, veggies, pico.  I worked last night, so dinner ended up being snacking on walnuts at work and a hard boiled egg when I got home (I know - not the healthiest choice).:/

Day 10 (Whoop - 1/3 done!) - my daughter thought of this - chopped up a stuffed pepper, heated it, then scrambled some eggs with it//salad with veggies, chicken, hardboiled and the Italian basil vinaigrette salad dressing from the Whole30 book///steak, sweet potato, and steamed broccoli.

Still no drastic fatigue, etc.  Yeah! 

[BarbaraM]

Day 15 - wow - halfway through!! And I had to figure out what day I'm on - I'm having so much fun with it, I guess I haven't really kept close track.  :-)

Well, I haven't done a great job at posting my meals everyday, but I am still on track with everything.  Still LOVING my meals, and still not missing anything.  Well, that's not quite true.  Overall, I really haven't missed gluten, sugar, or dairy, surprisingly enough.  But I have missed having the occasional glass of wine.  Even though I plan on continuing overall with a Whole30 lifestyle, I WILL enjoy a glass of wine here and there, lol.

So, conquering the restaurant thing for a "real" meal out, vs. Chipotle.  My hubby and I went to Rockfish Grill the other night and I order grilled tuna (which was really tasty), boiled new potatoes and steam asparagus.  My plate didn't look too exciting presentation-wise when it came out, but it was compliant, and yummy.

This morning hubby, dd who just got engaged, and I were out checking out a wedding venue, and we went out to breakfast at a hole in the wall type place.  I ordered a veggie omelet with no cheese, after checking to be sure no milk is added to the eggs, and I thought about asking what their hash browns were cooked in, but thought "forget it"- most likely it's not Whole30 compliant.  So for my sides I chose sliced tomatoes and seasonal fruit.  I've come a long way!  (Pats self on back).  And by the way, my advice is to DO pat yourself on the back, even for the little things.  That will reinforce what you are doing in a positive way, which reinforces it in your brain in a positive way.  

Tha tha that's all folks!

[BarbaraM]

Day 15 - wow - halfway through!! And I had to figure out what day I'm on - I'm having so much fun with it, I guess I haven't really kept close track.  :-)

Well, I haven't done a great job at posting my meals everyday, but I am still on track with everything.  Still LOVING my meals, and still not missing anything.  Well, that's not quite true.  Overall, I really haven't missed gluten, sugar, or dairy, surprisingly enough.  But I have missed having the occasional glass of wine.  Even though I plan on continuing overall with a Whole30 lifestyle, I WILL enjoy a glass of wine here and there, lol.

So, conquering the restaurant thing for a "real" meal out, vs. Chipotle.  My hubby and I went to Rockfish Grill the other night and I order grilled tuna (which was really tasty), boiled new potatoes and steam asparagus.  My plate didn't look too exciting presentation-wise when it came out, but it was compliant, and yummy.

This morning hubby, dd who just got engaged, and I were out checking out a wedding venue, and we went out to breakfast at a hole in the wall type place.  I ordered a veggie omelet with no cheese, after checking to be sure no milk is added to the eggs, and I thought about asking what their hash browns were cooked in, but thought "forget it"- most likely it's not Whole30 compliant.  So for my sides I chose sliced tomatoes and seasonal fruit.  I've come a long way!  (Pats self on back).  And by the way, my advice is to DO pat yourself on the back, even for the little things.  That will reinforce what you are doing in a positive way, which reinforces it in your brain in a positive way.  

Tha tha that's all folks!