Whole30: A Diary {Week 4}

On July 11, I began the Whole30 challenge in an effort to tame my sugar monster, control my eating and maybe lose a few pounds. This is my diary.

For those who aren't familiar with Whole30, it is a 30-day elimination diet that aims to reset cravings and see how your body reacts to certain foods. Grains, sugar, sugar substitutes, legumes, dairy, alcohol and soy are not allowed.

When I tell people that I am doing Whole30 and then spend another five minutes explaining what Whole30 is, the first question always concerns what I eat.

My answer: A lot. While I'm not eating processed foods, there's still a lot on God's green Earth available to consume. And, in terms of quantity, I still feel like I eat a good amount.

Note: You will see snacks in my diary. Whole30 discourages snacking. However, I run 4+ times a week and teach at least four classes. I need my snacks, if only to make sure that I am eating enough calories to maintain my workload.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Aug 1, 2016 at 10:51am PDT

day 22

breakfast >> grapes and an egg scramble

snack >> grilled chicken

lunch >> Seared Tuna Salad with oil and vinegar and roasted cauliflower

snack >> banana and handful of almonds

dinner >> Bunless burger made with Seven Sons grass-fed beef, roasted cauliflower, potato and applesauce

day 23

breakfast >> 3-egg omelet with avocado and Applegate smoked turkey breast

snack >> banana

lunch >> zoodle bowl with grilled chicken, tomatoes and sauteed peppers and onions and seasoned with Old Bay; grapes

snack >> almonds and salad

dinner >> roasted cauliflower and leftover Seven Sons burger

snack >> turkey rollups with avocado and mayo

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Aug 3, 2016 at 4:34am PDT

day 24 

breakfast >> fried eggs with tomato and kale

snack >> banana

lunch >> salad with grilled chicken, shaved Brussels sprouts and kale

snack >> watermelon and tuna (not together)

dinner >> Sweet potato hash browns with two eggs and cauliflower

snack >> Sunflower seed butter

day 25 

breakfast >> sweet potato hash, eggs and a banana

snack >> green juice

lunch >> salad with grilled chicken, shaved Brussels sprouts and kale

snack >> watermelon and almonds

dinner >> Tuna salad over green beans and roasted potatoes

snack >> strawberries and sunflower seed butter

day 26

breakfast >> sweet potato hash and eggs

snack >> grapes

lunch >> Hamburger patty over salad with side of sauteed Brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes

snack >> Boulder Canyon avocado and sea salt chips

dinner >> Five Guys bunless burger

day 27

breakfast >> banana and egg scramble with kale

snack >> banana bread larabar

lunch >> tuna curry spaghetti squash

snack >> cashews and grapes

dinner >> egg over kale and spagetti squash with marinara

snack >> watermelon and olives

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Aug 7, 2016 at 2:25pm PDT

day 28 

breakfast >> scrambled eggs and roasted potatoes

snack >> mixed vegetables with mayo and Old Bay seasoning

lunch >> turkey lettuce wraps, grapes and Boulder Canyon chips

snack >> chicken thigh and kashews

dinner >> cod with sauteed kale, roasted broccoli and shitake mushrooms

snack >> banana with sunflower seed butter and olives

Whole 30: A Diary {Week 3}

They say it takes 21 days to develop a habit, and it seems natural to assume that it would, then, take 21 days to break a habit.

I'm here to tell you that losing things is much, much harder than creating them. Unless, you are a set of keys, YMCA scan card or clean bra. In that case, it's much easier to lose those than to find them. 

Case in point: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi. I still really miss them, at least in the carbonation sense. I drink a lot of sparkling water, which helps, but I still get the urge to hit a drive-through on the way home from a run.

Case in point 2-point-0: I am known to put cheese on, well, everything. I have to really watch myself that I don't put a slice on my omelet or sprinkle some on my broccoli.

But, other than a few hiccups, week 3 went pretty well. Instead of giving you the day-by-day, I thought I'd touch on some observations.

Novelty ... it's gone. From a cooking perspective, the first two weeks of Whole30 were almost fun. I was challenging myself to create new dishes and explore new flavor combinations. By day 15, I did not give a flippity-flip-flip. There are only so many things you can put in an egg scramble, and I felt like I had them all. As such, I got lazy this week and kept things pretty basic.

Sleep. You magical beast. I LOVE YOU. Many people report that they sleep much better on Whole30. However, sleep wasn't an area of concern – only because my sleep quality and quantity is often a reflection of how Si is sleeping. (Dear boy, Can you at least try to be a unicorn and sleep through the night consistently? Love, Mom) I didn't realize, though, that I wasn't sleeping as well as I could have been because ... damn. I am sleeping HARD. In fact, I have not stirred during several night-time awakenings by my child, who was tended to by my husband. I felt bad about it for a hot minute and then I realized something: KARMA.

Weight loss. Friends who know I'm doing Whole30 have asked whether I've lost any weight because it's an obvious goal with such a restrictive eating challenge. My answer? I don't know. I didn't weigh myself at the start, mostly because I was scared, but I have been waffling between 138 and 141 the past few months, once getting down to 136. For, like, a stupid day. I'm fairly certain that I was closer to 141 three weeks ago. Now, the Whole30 powers that be say not to get on the scale. You don't want to get discouraged nor is it the point. However, I have stepped on it twice but once was after a mid-morning run at the Y and the second time, the next day, at home when I woke up. However, my scale is an asshole and will not stop displaying my weight in stones regardless of how many times I change the settings. That morning, I had yet to imbibe coffee and therefore could not do the math. I am hoping to buy a new scale before the end of this thing. (Dear Universe, Please send me a smart scale. Love, Shameless Blogger.)

For the love of God, I just want to eat out. OK. That's a lie. I have eaten out on Whole30 but this week, it was just really hard and I had a big fat baby tantrum about it. I felt like Whole30 was not just affecting how I ate but how I spent time with my family. We normally go out on Friday but I could think of nothing that we could all enjoy in our budget so I got grumpy and ate leftovers while the boys had Subway. The next day, Miles wanted to go to the mall (he's so my child) and we opted to do lunch there. I started to get overwhelmed in the food court when I decided to say "eff it" and just pick the best I could. 

I got a meal from the basically a Thai version of Panda Express. I got steamed vegetables instead of rice or noodles, curry and basil beef. After eating it, I'm fairly certain that the beef had sugar but the meal was much better than the chicken philly and fries that I would have gotten pre-Whole30.

Whole30: A Diary {Week Two}

On July 11, I began the Whole30 challenge in an effort to tame my sugar monster, control my eating and maybe lose a few pounds. This is my diary.

For those who aren't familiar with Whole30, it is a 30-day elimination diet that aims to reset cravings and see how your body reacts to certain foods. Grains, sugar, sugar substitutes, legumes, dairy, alcohol and soy are not allowed.

day 8 | The Whole30 folks warn you that changing your diet can affect your dreams. It's like being pregnant. You want to know what? It's true. Last night, I had a dream that involved beluga whales bothering helicopter moms on the beach; participating in a "Cutthroat Kitchen" type competition where I was cooking grilled cheese sandwiches in the back of a car; and going into a personal kitchen that had a gift shop-esque dispenser of Warhead powder. 

In other news, as I cooked dinner, I almost slipped up without thinking. I was boiling pasta for the guys and trying to put zucchini through the Vegetti to the soundtrack of Si screaming at the top of his lungs. As I tried to use the pasta fork to remove the angel hair from the pot and put it in a bowl, I dumped a crap ton on the stove, side of the stove and floor. I pick it up and go to put in my mouth. It didn't even occur to me that I couldn't do that anymore until it did.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 19, 2016 at 7:35am PDT

day 9 | You want to know what's an unexpected habit to have to break while you are doing Whole30? Eating off your kids' plates. I am known to eat everyone's leftovers, you know, because I run so much {not} but most of what they eat is Whole30 contraband. Like that bite of waffle on Miles' plate. But I soldier on with my egg breakfasts. I like them well enough and with avocado, they are mighty filling. 

You want to know what's another interesting habit to break while doing Whole30? Choosing foods based on convenience. No trips through a drive-through for a diet soda and fries while running errands over lunch. Oh no. I was a bit sad, I have to say, when I realized that I couldn't get waffle fries and a Diet Coke at Chick-Fil-A when I went school shopping at Old Navy for Miles. An aside, it's really alarming (to me) that I still miss diet soda this much. An aside-aside, how is my baby starting kindergarten in a month?

day 10 | O.M.G. I made the best dinner yet on Whole30 – a pork stir-fry with peppers, onions and baby broccoli and rainbow carrots from my Green Bean Delivery haul. Thanks be to the powers of Google and Mel Joulwan's blog, Well Fed, for the sauce. She said it was the best stir fry sauce ever – and she was right. Like, even when I'm done with Whole30, I will still make it. I served it all over shredded cabbage for me and rice for the boys, and I'm pretty sure I had the better bowl.

As much as I liked it, Miles HATED it. He said it smelled like skunk and balked at the rainbow carrots. The broccoli was offensive, too, because it was "dry" (aka not overcooked frozen broccoli). Apparently, I needed this challenge not just for me but to expand my kids' horizons.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 21, 2016 at 4:16am PDT

day 11 | You guys, I made the prettiest omelet today. It had avocado, tomatoes and onions and microgreens from Green Bean. Bonus: It tasted pretty darn good.

A few things to note: I'm so glad that I pre-sliced most of my veggies this week because it makes cooking much easier; avocado almost makes up for no cheese and is the key for me staying satiated; and the GB delivery was the best splurge. Week 1, I felt like I didn't have enough veggies, quantity wise, nor did I have enough variety. With the delivery, I was able to pick some things that I either don't have access to or wouldn't get during a normal grocery haul. The produce is making it so much fun to cook and meal plan already, and I'm looking forward to a few more baskets this summer.

day 12 | Why is nothing Whole30 compliant? Why the EFF is everything off plan? Work. Stupid busy. No time to grab lunch and when the idea of ordering Jimmy John's bubbles, I get excited. A turkey unwich with avocado sauce would be so good. But wait. The only meats that are Whole30 friendly are salami and capicola, neither of which sound good. I go to the hospital and get two hamburger patties and a salad with oil and vinegar. It did the job but left me craving something tastier.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 23, 2016 at 10:23am PDT

day 13 | I am going to leave my family. I just am. The kids are on fire, and I am tired after running 10 miles in the stupid hot weather and teaching Body Blast. Normally, I'd be "bad" and get an indulgent lunch (we went to Red Robin) or grab an ice cream or a fancy coffee or all of the above. But I can't. Or I choose not to because I want to finish Whole30. As I'm telling Mark all of this, I realize that Whole30 has robbed me of most of my coping mechanisms – especially when it comes to dealing with the stress of parenting. Is it sad that the only way I've managed so far is to eat and drink my feelings? I need to work on this.

In other news, said 10-mile run was much better than the previous week's 8 miles in better temps. While I resorted to a run-walk the last mile, I felt stronger and peppier than the first week and we actually had some pretty decent splits. The Whole30 slump is over!

day 14 | I am supposed to be having intense dreams and crazy cravings. Wait. Crazy dreams and intense cravings. Anyway. I'm not necessarily facing either – at least not today. I easily bypassed brownies and peanut butter balls at my running girls' pond party, and I was just fine eating grilled chicken with guacamole, fresh salsa, cut vegetables and fruit and chilled southwest avocado soup. By the way, that soup was life changing. It makes me glad that I bought five avocados at the store this week.

>>hashtag alltheavocados<<

Whole30: A Diary {Week One}

I'd like to blame my friend Kim. And my BFF Pattie.

Really, though, I should blame myself. I was the one who had been letting my eating habits slide. I was the one who had been grabbing mini candy bars from the office stash, going out for cocktails on the regular. I was the one who was suggesting the trips to the ice cream stand and buying the makings of watermelon margaritas. I was the one getting tired of myself.

So when I saw my friend Kim have good results on Whole30 and when my BFF Pattie shared a link to someone's experience with Whole30, commenting that maybe she could do it, too, I was in a place where I felt jealous and ready. I was jealous of someone doing better than me and I was prepared to do something about it.

 I told Pattie that if she was really interested in Whole30, I would do it with her. The goal wouldn't be to lose weight, per se, (though I wouldn't complain about that) but to gain a sense of pride and control in the way I was eating.

 She said yes (as any good BFF would) and agreed to wait until I returned from vacation. July 11 was day one.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 11, 2016 at 3:36am PDT

For those who aren't familiar with Whole30, it is a 30-day elimination diet that aims to reset cravings and see how your body reacts to certain foods. Grains, sugar, sugar substitutes, legumes, dairy, alcohol and soy are not allowed.

day 1 | There's a Diet Pepsi in the refrigerator. It's cold. Like, really cold. I can tell by looking at the can. I bet it would taste so good. Gah. I want to drink you all. With breakfast. Oh, yeah. Breakfast. I made scrambled eggs, which would taste much better with cheese. This is going to be hard.

day 2 | My head. My mother-freakin' head. It hurts so, so, so badly. It's caffeine withdrawal, I know it. I had my morning caffeine but no Diet Pepsi with lunch. I need that afternoon caffeine or I will cut someone. Someone like my husband, who commented that losing weight is hard. Please note: Mark has never had to lose weight in his life and can drop 5 pounds looking at a Weight Watchers advertisement.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 13, 2016 at 9:02am PDT

day 3 | Sad – that's what my plastic container from the hospital salad bar looks like. Granted, the contents are merely toppings to what I've brought from home but still. It's a far cry from my usual to-go containers and the one that I would have gotten that day had it not been for Whole30 – a DIY funnel cake from the hot bar.

day 4 | Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh. My training plan called for 6 miles with the last 3 miles ran faster than the first 3. On these types of workouts, I like to overachieve and run each mile faster than the previous one. It was smooth sailing until mile 4.5 when I hit the wall. No energy at all. The good news is that I no longer have a headache nor do I want to lob the Diet Pepsis in the fridge (ones Mark put in there for me on Sunday night) across the room. Or at Mark's head. 

Bonus: I was that person at work today, the one who burns crap in the microwave. I had put a sweet potato in for 6 minutes, the average time at home, but apparently too long at the office. It was burnt and hard, and it smelled. BAD. I spent 15 minutes apologizing. 

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 15, 2016 at 8:44am PDT

day 5 | I can tell I'm not as hungry between meals. It's a good thing. The only problem is that I don't think I'm eating enough. At least that's what I tell myself when I have yet another mediocre run. Again, it was good till the half way point but my attempts to push it the last two miles were poorly reflected in my pace. 

Note: I'm violating Whole30 rules and tracking my intake on MyFitnessPal. 1) I don't want to break my streak (now 428 days) but 2) I want to see my macro breakdown to ensure I'm eating enough protein.  

The one thing I have no trouble doing is peeing. I went to bed early because I had plans to meet the girls at 7 a.m. the next day to run, and I spent 9 p.m. to midnight going to the bathroom every half hour. I swear that I didn't have too much water at dinner. 

day 6 | I still miss Diet Pepsi. I wanted one after my run and again on my way home from the grocery store. I never realized how much I was addicted to it. Oh, and speaking of the store. Holy. Cow. I spent $45 at Kroger, another $60+ at Aldi and I joined a veggie delivery service that's another $30. I am not sure if I'm buying more vegetables than I need but I have to eat something – and eat something different.

A photo posted by Kimberly (@foot.notes) on Jul 17, 2016 at 8:56am PDT

day 7 | So proud. I went to church with Mark and the boys, and I resisted the table with the donuts. I grabbed a cup of coffee (black) and watched as everyone enjoyed the fellowship (aka sugar). Instead, I wait it out to have a salad at home. I go for some Thai flavors in the dressing – "clean" mayo, red curry paste and rice vinegar – but sort of fail. Live and learn, I guess. And I have another 23 days to try to get it right.

Has anyone else done Whole30? Tips? Results?