Day 1 - 1/1/13

[paleolala]

Day 1 of my first W30 today.

I've had poor eating habits for as long as I can remember - probably since my mum stopped making my school lunches and I would go without breakfast, lunch and come home starving and load up on peanut butter sandwiches and apples. I've been dipping in and out of paleo/primal style eating for a while, seeing lots of sense in it for someone like me. And after an extremely over indulgent last few months (post-wedding, honeymoon, christmas, etc) I'm feeling bloated, uncomfortable and in dire need of a clean slate and a bit of a refresh.

I am probably the prime Whole 30 candidate, with years of bad eating habits resulting in digestive problems, food allergies, hormone imbalances, yoyo-ing weight, carb dependence, sleep/stress/anxiety/mood issues, the whole gamut. On the positives, it means I have plenty of gain from this short 30 day stint focusing on making good food choices.

I'm doing to keep a regular journal here for the duration and publish it in its entirety once I'm done.

<b>My Goals:</b>

Nutrition: Focus on mindful eating - eat every meal without being distracted by TV, computer, etc.

Sleep: Go to bed at 10 every night. Turn off all electronic devices.

Stress Management: Ride my bike to and from work every day.

Exercise: Get in a session 6 days a week (crossfit, bikram, run or walk).

Active Recovery: Add 15 minutes of dedicated recovery to every work out.

Personal Growth: Read each night before bed.

My biggest concerns at the moment are:

> staying away from sugar and dealing with the withdrawals

> getting enough protein - particularly as I start back at crossfit midway through the month

> sticking with it for the whole 30 days with no slip ups

> breakfast options - avoiding bacon, smoothies, etc

Day 1 - hormonal, tired and bloated - but on track

Had baked eggs with mushies, spinach and ham for brekky, and cooked up a big batch of pumpkin, chicken and cashew stirfry for lunch and dinner. Went for a lovely long walk along the river. I'm feeling cloudy mentally (likely the sugar withdrawals methinks) and so sick of my crampy tummy, but feeling relatively ok and pretty organised and on top of it so far. Really enjoyed reading through some of the forum comments about body image/weight attitudes this afternoon which has convinced me to stay away from the scales for the whole 30 days.

[Derval]

Welcome & good luck. Sounds like you had a great first day!

[paleolala]

Day 2 - had THE BEST sleep last night. Feeling good, but still foggy and hormonal. Eating delicious food, drinking plenty of water and lots of self-love.

[Special K]

Great start Newbie! I'm starting my Day 1 on Jan. 2nd.

[paleolala]

Day 3 - coasting through. Have been a bit slack on the exercise, and not sleeping so well, but putting it down to the stupid heat here in Melbourne and the dreaded first week... The next 4 days will be the test...

[paleolala]

Days 4/5/6 - all went pretty ok over the weekend on the farm. Didn't go off road, although didn't manage 3 meals a day, and certainly had too much fruit as it was the best option in a sea of wheat and dairy. Feel like I need more vegies!

Starting to feel really good for it - leaning out somewhat, my belly is less bloated, I'm feeling more alert and clearheaded.

[paleolala]

Day 7. One week in! Feeling really good and loving all the delicious food. Had beautiful beef schnitzel (paleo style) and a coleslaw with paleo mayo for dinner. Yum! Can't wait for leftovers tomorrow!

Took some measurements this morning which was uplifting. Noticing the changes big time - feeling less "fleshy" in general. My skin is clear, my tummy isn't bloated, I'm sleeping well (despite the stinking heat in Melbourne). Life is good.

Struggled hardcore through a bikram class tonight. Posted in the ladies only group about my drastically low iron levels in case there are some pearls of wisdom out there on how to tackle that problem.

Apart from that I'm feeling clear, and having some big personal and professional breakthroughs in my downtime. Back to work tomorrow and looking forward to seeing how it goes.

[Callan]

Sounds like things are going well for you. Keep up the good work and I hope someone has some insight into the iron issue. Best of luck!

[paleolala]

Thanks Callan. Good luck to you too!

Day 9 - I seem to be cruising through... I've had a few pangs for foods that are off limits (banana chips today), but seriously I'm kind of surprised at how easy this is... I'm sure I'll eat my words at some point but for now I'm feeling pretty comfortable.

Got some great advice on the low iron issue from a lady on the forum, and going to chase a few things up in the coming days.

Seriously considering turning this into a Whole 100. Partly because I'm feeling so good and want to get some of the good habits bedded down, and partly because I'm a bit worried what I might do if I start offroading... It's a slippery slope with me.

For now though, powering on! Happy days!

[paleolala]

Day 10 - Damn, craving some bread, likely because all I have in the house is salmon, which I'm really not excited about... Need to duck to the supermarket and get myself something DELICIOUS for lunch to prove I don't need to slip back into old habits.

[paleolala]

Day 20- dodged some serious carb cravings with two salmon meals, some sweet potato chips and some mango with lite coconut milk today. Pretty happy that I haven't even really looked like giving in yet.

I'm still feeling quite bloated - or rather kind of like the rest of my body feels less fleshy and my belly still does.

I think I've decided I'm going to extend this to be a w100. Hell, if I can make it 10 days I can make it 100 surely?!

[paleolala]

And clearly I mean day 10 above, not 20. That would be too easy!

[paleolala]

Day 11 - went to a friend's place for dinner tonight with a bunch of foodies. It was tricky - 5 couples had each brought something to put on the grill (entree, main or dessert) so there wasn't really enough vegie love and probably too much sugar. But I stayed on course. Everyone else was making crazy cocktails and drinking beautiful red wine, but I was happy to have my soda and fresh lime. I got talking to a couple of people about the Whole 30 and I'm hoping I might have convinced at least one...

I have noticed I'm getting a bit lazy with my cooking though. This usually happens about now if I try to be controlled with my eating, so I should cook up a big batch of something today to take the pressure off and make sure I have plenty of things available and easy for when I'm back at work next week.

[paleolala]

Day 15 - Half WAY! Still sailing through with no slip ups in sight.

A bit tender after my first crossfit session back last night, but happy to be back into it and quite stoked that the coach picked I'd lifted before, given I'm still not too confident about my ability and technique. I did only get about 6 months under my belt before I took my 4 month leave of absence...

Still dealing with the low iron issues and didn't go to Bikram tonight for that reason. I think I probably didn't have enough to eat today and hit a wall about 5 pm. Need to avoid that tomorrow by getting in a good brekky.

Decided I'm definitely going to push this out to a Whole 100. Feeling really good on the whole, but I'm yet to experience the weight/fat loss I was hoping for - perhaps I was too optimistic? I definitely have it to lose! I'm feeling leaner in my arms and legs, but I still have the persistent belly going on. Haven't sorted out the probiotic idea yet, but on my list. Also, I'm kind of stunned at just how easy I'm finding this. I think it has just been a matter of relearning what I knew about how to eat - and how to make the good stuff just as easy as the bad stuff. I'd love to really get the behaviours bedded down so that I can make this kind of eating permanent.

I've pledged that this is the year I'm going to work on my health and fitness. Whole30 eating, 12 month Hello Sunday Morning, crossfit and a monthly fitness challenge (run/etc) should see me through it with success!

[SummerGirl]

You sound like you are really in the swing of it Lara! I liked your line about wanting to really get the behaviours bedded down so that you can make this kind of eating permanent. I took the same approach last year and complete 4 Whole 30's in order to consolidate the new habits. It worked well!

Ps. I did a double take when I saw your pic as I thought it was Kate Middleton! You look very like her!

[paleolala]

Thanks lady! I don't really look like her in real life though! Congrats to you on getting through 4 w30s in 12 months! What a feat! I'm sure you must feel amazing for it.

MCed and event tonight and didn't get home til 11ish to my salad waiting for me in the fridge. Did not even feel like touching any of the very yummy looking cocktails or nibbles at the event- Which is great!

At the same time though, I can't help wondering what it is that is different about the whole 30 that is making this stick? I've tried to correct my poor eating habits time and time again and nothing has worked. Why now? Why this? If anyone knows the answer I'm all ears! I'd love to be able to apply some of this to other behavior change work I do! And also to be mindful of whatever it is as I try to make this permanent.

My body is definitely aware of being back at crossfit. Front squats, lunges and thrusters yesterday have me feeling rather ginger today. A session in less than 7 hours so best get some sleep - or try at least! It was 40 degrees in Melbourne today and not expected to get below 30 overnight. Phew!

[paleolala]

Day 20 done. Two thirds of the way through my first whole 30 and still sailing. I went to a french music festival yesterday and still has no issues. Pretty proud that I haven't even thought of caving yet.

Spent the whole day looking at lots beautiful people in impossibly chic outfits and thinking how amazing it would be to wear whatever you like without having to worry about how you look, what fits, what's appropriate etc. Looking forward to that for sure.

I've become very aware that I'm not doing the best w30. A little too much snacking, probably too many nuts, not quite enough vegies, too much fruit and not enough exercise. I think my next 80 days will be focused on trying to perfect these things. As always it comes down to preparation for me.

Going to do a full weigh and measure on day 30 then stay off the scales for the rest of my w100. I have a wedding to go to at the end of it so going to buy myself a lovely new frock for the occasion.

[paleolala]

Day 23 and I'm copping the cravings big time. I really want crunchy carbs! Only a week to go until I've successfully completed 30 days. Only 70 more to go after that!

[paleolala]

Well I'm done - through 30 days but I'm soldiering on to day 100.

I'll post a proper update on my blog on the first 30 days.

[paleolala]

Day 41 - Still sailing through and enjoying it, not thinking about giving up at all, in fact I can see this being the way I eat forever ongoing. I'm feeling good, my mood and sleep are great. I'm still loving the food. Not managing the 6 workouts plus my daily bike commute as I'd hoped. I did get in 4 this week and 5 days of riding though.

I haven't really seen the revolutionary fat loss I was hoping for though which I'm finding upsetting and quite demoralising. I weighed myself at the end of my 30 days and I had lost about 3 kgs, and though I feel slightly leaner, less puffy and fleshy, I'm surprised I still feel so soft around the belly.

I saw an old photo of myself today and I would guess I was about 60 kgs (20 kgs lighter than now). And of course at the time I thought I was huge but in hindsight I looked great. I'm really upset that at 27 I'm probably 20 kgs overweight, I hate my body as I have done my whole life and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I thought w30 would change that to a certain extent, but it hasn't done yet.

I've thrown out ALL of my beautiful clothes, partially because they don't fit me, and partially because I don't really feel like they're "me" and I want to start from scratch and build up a wardrobe that really suits me. I've stored a box of another 10 or so items I couldn't bear to part with, that I'm hoping I'll fit back into. I've left myself with only 10 or so items that I can fit into comfortably - mostly trackies and loose tops. I feel like I'm in a good place personally and I'm ready to start building a wardrobe of beautiful pieces that feel like "me" but I refuse to do that at this weight.

I'm so frustrated that I'm doing better than I ever have when it comes to eating well, exercising and being kind to my body and I'm still pretty much as heavy as I've ever been. I know it takes longer than 40 days to turn this around and I'm loving the benefits outside of weightloss, but I'm getting so frustrated that it just isn't happening for me.

At this stage, I'm thinking I'm going to start paying closer attention to my fat and carbohydrate intake to keep them limited somewhat and really try to get into better routine so I can get more workouts in.

I would love to hear from anyone in the same situation. What do I do to overcome this and really get the most out of the next 60 days?

[paleolala]

By the way, had the best bikram class this week. Hadn't been able to go for ages because my iron store have been so low I'd be unable to stand up for the whole class, but after a week of iron tablets I was stunned how much better I felt and how much I had missed it. Stoked. Safe to say I look a bit different in the mirror from when I was going regularly with this extra 10 kgs on me.

[paleolala]

Day 50. Half way through and hormonal like a crazy woman. I cannot stop thinking about brownies, chocolate, cookies, apple crumble, icecream. These are not things I have missed at all, nor necessarily things I want when I'm hormonal. I'm really tempted to have some of the delicious dark chocolate roasted almonds but I know they're off roading and I also know I can't control myself well enough to just have one. Instead I'm going to make homemade icecream with bananas or raspberries or something delicious.

I'm finding I'm getting a bit bored of the food. I still enjoy eating it mostly but I'm a bit sick of cooking and I HATE doing dishes. It has been scorching hot here in Melbourne and I just wanted to have pho or something last night rather than cook.

I'm still not feeling any slimmer but now isn't really the time to be too worried about it. Just need to get carbs into my body! Still LOVING sweet potato chips. Cannot get enough of them.

Is there anything in particular I can be doing to keep things interesting? Anything I should be keeping an eye out for throughout the next 50 days?

[paleolala]

Day 62 (?) - feeling really good and thinking I've probably entered the next phase of WHOLE 30 Life. I don't know if anyone is familar with dunning-kruger principle? That the less we know the more we think we know, and the further into our learning we get the more we realise there is to learn... It's kind of a nice feeling to have.

I think too, I'm entering into the unconscious competence phase of learning. I've been through unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and now finally, I'm feeling like I've kind of just got the hang of things. It is requiring less and less though, willpower and planning. I'm managing to just do it. A great feeling.

I'm still feeling great, but stress has kicked in a little so my time and planning has been thrown out a little. Typically this would send me running for the choc chip cookies, doughnuts etc, but I'm cruising through (not withstanding the craving I have right now)! Rather than stress causing me to WANT more food, more likely than not I kind of forget I need it - I've broken the emotional/hormonal response that tied me to food.

I'm making the most of this and having a very good look at all my hormones, vitamin levels and stress levels to try and get things sorted once and for all. I've been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue - elevated cortisol, oestrogen dominance. Mindful of being kind to myself as I tackle this in a long term change/holistic treatment way.

Still haven't managed to bed down a good exercise routine, but I'm hoping this will come when things settle a little bit. I think I've been far too ambitious in the past. I'd like to end up with my daily ride, plus 3 higher intensity (crossfit) and 3 lower intensity sessions (yoga, walking) each week. All in good time though. My crossfit coach has been really great and very patient.

[paleolala]

So I finished my first W100 on April 10, 2013 and now, 10 days since I finished up I've been thinking a lot about the experience.

I was pretty proud of myself for making it 100 days with no slip ups (to my knowledge). It certainly wasn't perfect - and there is much that I can improve on for me next w100 - starting tomorrow. Things to improve on:

sugar (fruit) intake - I think I have to really focus on this second time around.

exercise - I need more weights and cardio in the form of bike riding, bikram and kettle bells.

routine - feeds in to the exercise issue and also talks to sleep.

variety in my food - towards the end I was kind of on autopilot and forgot to enjoy it as much.

Results - I didn't do measurements at the end (knowing I'd like to do a second stint), but I lost 5.5 kgs over 100 days which isn't massive, but still good. I feel less bloated, sleep better, levelled out my moods to an extent. But here's the big stuff.

Without w100 I never would have realised that I have some bigger health issues at play. I was diagnose with adrenal exhaustion part way into this, and I know now there are bigger issues to tackle. I've had to give up some of my work and uni and take a big step back for a while. I've given up crossfit for now so as not to stress my body more. I've also had some emotional breakthroughs to do with using food as a substitute for intimacy and personal contact, which also feeds into my body image issues. The great thing is though, I can use w30 to keep treating these and to hopefully get them resolved.

When the hartwigs say It starts with food, I think they're absolutely right. For me though, there are a few things that need to be resolved alongside it - namely stress and emotional issues. Here's hoping my second w100 yields some breakthroughs. I'd love to hear of anyone else experiencing similar challenges.