Restarting but feeling pretty disillusioned

[kristie]

Made it to day 22...and then fell all the way off the wagon and rolled halfway down the street.

I sooo had wanted to make it all the way through but it is clearly time to start over.

But I am not sure how it is going to work. At the moment I am travelling around a lot and the next 30 days will see me in about 5 or 6 different locations, often staying with friends. I won't be in 'clean' kitchens and trying to make sure constantly I constantly have the right ingredients, especially when I am often showing up somewhere for just 2 or 3 days, and eating with others is going to be very tough.

This past 3 weeks were easier as I was in one place by myself with an empty kitchen to fill up and very little going out and socialising so it was very easy to be compliant and not be tempted.

Really not sure how this is going to go.

[Kirsteen]

First of all, Kristie, congratulate yourself that you had 22 whole days eating clean. Wow, that's great. Second if the next 30 days are 'normal' for you, if you're always going to be travelling around that much, then you're going to have to come up with stratagies to cope with it and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice here. If, however, it's not normal but is only for the next 30 or so days then, personally, I'd just do the best you can. Plan ahead, decide to offroad as little as possible but don't stress over what you really cannot control. Get through it as best you can and look on it as practice for a super W30 as soon as things calm down. Good luck whichever way it goes.

[kristie]

Ahhh thank you Kirsteen, that makes me feel so much better!

While the travelling is normal for me I am usually on my own...which makes it easy for me to control exactly what I am eating. The next month sees me with friends a lot which, to a degree, puts me a bit at the mercy of what they are eating. Naturally I can abstain from things but it becomes really awkward trying to make everything match what I need, which has an impact on whoever I am staying with (which I just wouldn't do).

I think I will do as you suggest. Do my absolute best to make good food choices and avoid all of the nasties that the whole30 has had me off.......but wait till I am somewhere a little more stable (should be within 3-4 weeks) before launching properly back into the whole30 program.

And thank you - you're right. 22 days is something to celebrate! I have never gone that with the foods I have cut out before!

[KettleBELLE]

Hey Kristie

I just came across this post and want to send a bit of encouragement!

My first W30 was actually a W25 (I was feeling terrific following the W30, then went through a break up and, despite KNOWing how good and right a Whole9 lifestyle is for me, crawled right into all the comfort eating habits). I've just started another W30 and was actually quite nervous about it b/c I guess there are some negative associations there that I didn't expect!

Anyway, the point is, I've also realized that this is my lifestyle now. Not strict W30 -- that's to reset and have a sense of accomplishment -- but making choices in line with Whole9 principles. As this is my long-term pursuit there are going to be plenty of times of modification and uh ohs. It's a tough goal for me -- who tends to think all or nothing with fitness and nutrition -- to realize I have to start looking at much longer periods of time to gauge my 'success'. As well as how I'm feeling, of course...

On a more practical side, I do quite a bit of traveling and sometimes it totally works out and sometimes I have to remind myself to just calm down and do the best I can. I was in Las Vegas for a week in January and had NO trouble sticking to W30 guidelines. I was shocked at myself, but it was great! Then I was in Hong Kong for a month, where I thought I'd do fine with steamed fish and meat and vegetables (I lived there a few years ago so was familiar with the cuisine). Instead I was overwhelmed to realize how many sauces there are (which I didn't notice previously b/c so many are so light I didn't count them b/c I just realize before I started paying such close attention to my food), how often vegetable oil is used, how even a 'plain' dish may have a dusting of flour... Obviously my head exploded at my inability to control, you know, the world and I really had to calm myself down, look around at the perfectly healthy, fit people around me eating, and just make the best possible choice. My worse choice on that Hong Kong trip was still better than a self-indulgent ice cream pity party...!

Enjoy your travels!

A.

[Susan W]

Kristie, I so agree with Kirsteen. Celebrate your rockin' W22. Do the best you can while traveling and don't stress.

[Manda]

Kristie, I just finished a whole 30, and just today realized that one of the foods I ate--almost the whole month--is non-compliant. ??? Discouraged doesn't cover it. So tonight I ate what I wanted (and wow, my intestines are letting me know what a bad idea this was), and tomorrow I start another whole 30---and my husband is starting with me! I'm just trying to take what I learned over the last month, and apply it now--and it's going to be great.

22 days is awesome! Celebrate that & know that you're armed with knowledge to make the best choices you can as you travel!

[ScoutFinch]

Same thing--I found these wonderful jarred pickled beets at the coop, and about two weeks ago ate two jars of them over about four days. Went back to get them again yesterday, looked at the label just sort of automatically, and found they have high fructose corn syrup in them. Why in the name of heaven would you need to put sugar in beets! The lady at the coop was also amazed and disgusted. Anyway, I'm going to finish out the 30 days (Wednesday), and then take a short break and reintroduce dairy to see how that goes, and then do another 30. I feel great doing this, and doing another (especially now that spring vegetables are starting to come in) was what i planned anyway. But was so discouraged to know it hadn't been as clean as I'd thought. (And may explain why I headed for a Larabar last week, too.) But agree--22 days great and starting again even greater. I think the whole thing of realizing that habits are what we are also losing takes a mental and emotional toll. Wishing you really good luck and experiences this time.