Whole30 Day 30 Every planet has its own weird customs. Some people juggle geese!

I made it!!! Day 30 of another successful Whole30!!!

Now, I need to keep this way of eating going... This was not hard... the first few days were challenging, but once things were rolling, I had little issue keeping up the pace.

I've got to stick to this breakthrough and not let go of it... not again...

I wasn't always a chubby girl. In fact, I used to be "tiny", "petite", "Smurfette"...

I had little sticks for legs and had (and still have) noticeably dainty hands and feet... so, naturally all I wanted in the whole world was to be big. I wanted to be tall and have boobs and be popular... and now... 

Now, my one wish is to be small again. Not just for the change in tough choices going back to "jungle gym or swings?", but literally... 

I would sit with my hands folded and hunch my shoulders over to appear to be smaller... or bring my knees into my chest and put my head down so I was invisible in my mind. This posture has led me down a road of feeling less than acceptable as a body (or a personality). 

I don't want anyone to see how big I am. 

There are a couple of problems right there. 

1. Why do I care about what others think? 
• Was middle school that scarring that I think some stranger at a bar is going to come up to me, point at my stomach, and ask loud enough for the whole place to hear if I want some butter to go with my rolls?!?!?
2. Even if someone did say something audibly enough for me to hear it, intentionally or otherwise, why is their opinion more important to me that my own?
• When did I decide that someone that does not know me is more qualified to judge me than I am? Perhaps, it is because I think a stranger is more likely to be honest than a friend or my husband... but that makes little sense the more I think about it.

I am accepting the likelihood that affirmations could be a big help to me to get through the roadblocks I face each day, therefore, I am going to start giving myself some love Stuart Smalley style...

Daily Affirmation

So-

I am good enough

I am smart enough

and doggone it, people like me!

... er... maybe I'll make up my own?

I love myself unconditionally...

I'm stronger today, than I was yesterday; and tomorrow, I'll be stronger still...

I deserve good things...

Now for records...

Food:

Lunch-
Big Salad w/Roast Turkey & Olives

Dinner-

Grilled Chicken w/Roasted Potatoes & Salad

Stats:

Starting Line-

Whole30 Day 1 - 254 lbs

254 lbs
Size 20 jeans 
Constant back pain
Regular heartburn and belching
Pressure headaches nearly everyday
Always tired
Knees clicking going up stairs
Exercise induced asthma





Finish Line-

Whole30 Day 31 - 239 lbs

239 lbs
Size 18 jeans getting loose
Occasional, mild back ache
No heartburn 
No headaches 
Rarely tired and sleep more soundly
Rosacea clearing up
Knees still clicking going up stairs, but not as loud

Ramble on...

Whole30 Day 29 Get you close enough to ring the doorbell.

Sometimes I feel like I just repeat myself here. Like, how excited I am that the Whole30 is ending, and how proud I am of myself for sticking to it, and how great I feel, and how much better my clothes fit... Those are the things on my mind now though, so I can't help but shout from the mountain top and enjoy the echo. 

I found my old pictures. I thought I lost a ton of  pictures I had on my old digital camera and I was so upset, because these pictures were from a time way before I met Bryan... back when I first lost a bunch of weight (I got down to 192), started internet dating (so many selfies!) and moved into my first flat (in Royal Oak)...

I remember thinking I was still so fat, so ugly... I was not... I was curvy, but super cute... What adventures did I deny myself because I had such a poor image of myself in my mind?

I also found old pictures of myself chronicling my ascent to the weight I currently record... 

Then I got my first iPhone which captured the pictures I've had safely on my drive for years... these photos show meeting and starting to date Bryan... and the resulting 15 lbs I put on in our 4 year courtship before our wedding.

I am sad that my wedding pictures will never look as good as I wanted them to because I couldn't get myself to take this approach when we got engaged in December 2013... or even this time last year... but I do feel lucky to have some pretty amazing "before" shots :)

So many of those photos are of sad men and women missing out on life, but mine are of me and my favorite person being so happy and in love and dressed up all pretty like... I love it! When I get to where I'm going size-wise, I think I want to see if I can get my dress altered and have anniversary pictures taken...

Hey, look at that, I found something new to talk about after all...



Lunch-
Steak & Asparagus Frittata w/Roasted Potatoes & Carrot Sticks

Dinner-
Salmon Garden Salad 



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 28 It's okay, I'm a leaf on the wind!.

Apple slices with almond butter, black coffee, broiled flank steak, roasted cauliflower... 

All of these things sounded just okay before. 

I'd have preferred toast and peanut butter, iced coffee with cream and artificial sweetener, a cheese burger and fries...

Now, it's just how I eat, it's the top of the list of things I like. 

I'd still rather have ranch dressing than oil & vinegar, so I'll have the ranch, in moderation. If it makes chomping down a bunch of leafy greens and veggies so much more pleasant, it is a worthy concession to make. 

And I'll still use cheese and breadcrumbs in my cooking on occasion, but only when the flavor is better enhanced with those ingredients than with the suggested Paleo substitutes.

Last night I was thinking how I could make a meal plan and allow pizza once a month, and cheeseburgers w/fries, and giant burritos from Chipotle, and I got to a point where the spiral was rolling on and on and filling up all of my meal slots... and then I realized... 

My next big hurdle isn't my weight loss goal or the ability to cross my legs when seated; it's not having to plan every meal ahead of time so that no huge detours get in my way. 

This one will take time, and other milestones will be reached along the way, but the moment I feel that I have been unconsciously choosing healthy meals over fast and easy garbage food... that's when I know I've broken the cycle... and I know I'm well on my way.

Two more days until results!



Lunch-
Cherry Pecan Salad w/Grilled Steak & Blue Cheese Dressing

Dinner-
Chopped Steak w/Burnt Onions & Bacon, Broccoli & Roasted Cauliflower



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 27 It's always a hoot, and we don't all die from it.

I can't believe I have come this far... Maybe it's the time of year, because the last time I made it through to the end was in the fall, but I'm so glad I could get myself to this point.

Yes, there are three more days to get through... and I know this is not the end of Paleo, or even super strict Paleo for me, but I'm so proud of myself I could just burst.

I had been feeling kinda bloated and icky for a couple days and was starting to lose focus on the purpose of the challenge and obsess over the weight loss part, but I woke up this morning feeling a lot better, so I'll chalk all of that up to having been so sick for the last week and my body retaining water in self defense... 

Not that the weight loss thing isn't major, but I really try to make sure I don't make that the point of this. I needed a serious overhaul to my relationship with food in order to make permanent changes that will make a healthy life come naturally. I got so tired of the struggle, and the fads, and crash diets, and meetings, and money, and pills, and drops, and gimmicks...
My brother is coming over for dinner tonight. I haven't seen him in a good long while so I'm kinda hoping he'll notice how much I have lost... though he is a guy, so he probably wouldn't notice unless I was suddenly a size zero... and on fire... :)



Lunch-
Fajita Chicken w/Peppers & Avocado
Dinner-
Grilled Sesame Chicken w/Carrots & Peppers



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 26 Now I'm learning about scary!

I feel gross today... like bloated and gross... thinking back on what I ate yesterday, I can't figure out what brought this on.

Maybe it's just the weather. Maybe it's a part of my cycle.

I have no idea.

I am very excited that the official run of this Whole30 ends on Saturday, but I think I'm most excited about what comes after. 

I've got a whole new appreciation for real food and I am looking forward to continuing this way of eating. It just is. 

I don't need bread, sweets, cheese...

Well, sometimes I do very much want those things, but the point is I don't NEED them, and that is a wonderful revelation.



Lunch-
Meatloaf w/Mashed Potatoes & Salad

Dinner-
Mediterranean Carry Out - Chicken Kabobs, Grilled Squash & Salad



Ramble On...

Whole30 Days 23-25 Who's flying this thing!? Oh right, that would be me.

Wow, what a weekend... and not in the exciting way. As you may know, I have been terribly sick with a seasonal cold that had my chest hurting just to breathe. I feel about 80% better today, but this weekend was a rough one. 

It was hard to stay on the rails of the Whole30 train with this. Most medications contain sweeteners of some sort and tea  and water can only do so much to keep a sore throat soothed. I need to figure out a lozenge solution if I come across this issue in the future because all I wanted was the mentho-lyptus relief of a Hall's cough drop. 

I did manage to get a lot of things done around the house despite my worn out state and can't wait to roast the turkey legs sitting my my fridge with avocado oil, salt & chipotle spice rub soaking into the skin.

Just have to get through these remaining six hours of work first... 



Lunch-
Pork Chop w/Roasted Cauliflower & Cucumber

Dinner-
Roasted Turkey Legs w/Smashed Sweet Potatoes & Green Beans



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 22 That was the torture talking. Remember the torture?

Today is a good day. My cold is getting better and, though I'm am still coughing, the coughs are productive in clearing my chest congestion.

I am very grateful to whatever force inspired me to make chicken broth last month because it is the only thing that soothes my sore throat. Tea helps too, but too much tea makes me hyper, and the herbal stuff makes my stomach hurt.

Another reason to be thankful is that my workload is steady. I have a lot of work to do, but it is all "do at your own pace" kind of stuff. I can keep distracted without adding stress to my list of ailments.

It is day 22 and I now have a little over one week until this Whole30 is complete. I'm so proud of myself for holding on all through this cold. I did have orange juice, but I think the exception is okay in my case.

I'm getting better everyday. :)




Lunch-
Grilled Chicken Salad w/Bacon

Dinner-
Herb Crusted Skirt Steak w/Roasted Potatoes & Carrots



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 21 I guess they got hungry again.

Even though I am sick and only want sleep, I am staying as positive as I can. 

It helps that I am now noticing body composition changes; like the love handles on my back being nearly gone, and my stomach flattening out again. 

My jeans fit better, I feel better... and taller... 

I want to keep this up as long as possible so, when my 30 days are up, I think I'll just keep going. 

No kicking myself when an event comes around that causes a lapse in food judgement, or when a craving overtakes my logical mind... 

This is the way it should be. If I can let go of my emotional connection to wanting bad foods, I can let go of my self punishing attitude when things don't go as planned, as well...


Is this making sense? I sure could use a nap right about now...


Lunch-
It's a grab bag kind of lunch made of little bits of leftovers: 
Grilled Chicken & Steak w/Roasted Squash & Mashed Potatoes

Dinner-
Fajita Chicken w/Salsa & Guacamole




Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 20 But these apples are healthsome and good.

I am having a tough time eating all that I need to eat... With the cold, and a bit of food boredom, I just don't have an appetite. I'm considering getting one of those funnels they use to force feed geese for Fois Gras...

Chewing is stupid... I'm so tired... I almost passed out in the shower this morning... I have no idea why, maybe I was overheated, maybe it was lack of sleep... Must keep pretending to be fine, do not want to be sent home! I have too much to do...

I have to keep this one short, sorry...




Lunch-
Meatloaf w/Grilled Zucchini

Dinner-
Pork Chops w/Mashed "Cauli-tatoes" & Carrots



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 19 … watch how I soar.

Terrible, yet inevitable, news everyone... I finally got hit with the head cold my husband had last week. We didn't get to go to the cookout because we didn't want to get the grandparents or the baby nieces sick. We stayed in and rested up with some soup and a LOT of Walking Dead... I'm almost caught up just in time for the season 6 premier on 10/11!

He's not quite back to normal yet, but I'm in the first day of it and all of my efforts to thwart it's evil plans have been unsuccessful. Cold-Eeze has made me feel sick to my stomach, Day-Quil gives me heartburn and the allergy meds in my kit will just make me sleepy.

All I can do is keep pumping the fluids into my system and getting plenty of rest... luckily I sit most of the day and am relatively isolated in the office so I don't have to miss work (so much to do for month end!)




Lunch-
Beef Stew w/Potatoes & Carrots

Dinner-
Mediterranean Carry Out of some sort...
All I know is I want loads of garlic. I'm not sure if it's all in my head, but my great grandma used to make us eat raw garlic with "no more than half a piece of bread" to fight colds and it always seemed to do the trick.


I know the rules of the Whole30 tell you to stop and start over when you are better, but I'm figuring I'm going to keep eating like this for the most part so I am not counting the ingredients in the meds as a rule break. 

As much as I'd love to curl up in front of the TV with a sleeve of saltine crackers and huge mug of chicken noodle soup, I've got 11 days to go and I will finish...

And that's that.


Ramble On...

Whole30 Days 16-18 I am a leaf on the wind…

Energy has arrived, finally... 

It wasn't all at once, but over the course of the weekend I have been transformed from a lazy bum to a well oiled energy machine. I cleaned out my car, got all the birthday gifts purchased and wrapped, prepped lunches for the week, went shopping with the ladies in my family and got the house in order.

Yet, now that I am at my desk at work, I could fall right asleep on my keyboard.

Maybe it's just from having such a busy weekend, or because I stayed up a little late last night. Or maybe the lack of sugar has taken this long to set in... I don't usually have a sweet tooth, but have been going bonkers for sugar this time around, so much so that I am avoiding fruit and trying my best to keep the Larabars limited to a couple bites at a time only when time is too tight to make a meal... I stared longingly at the sugar bowl at work while my coffee brewed... ssssssugarrrrr... mmmmmm... ugh! Snap out of it!!!

It's not that bad, really... 

I'm sure it will pass by lunchtime... speaking of:


Lunch-
Roasted Chicken w/Potato Wedges & Green Beans

Dinner-
Cookout @ The In-Law's
My MIL always makes an effort to get good ingredients and organic meat and produce, so no worries there... it'll just be rough when they start passing out the desserts. I'll add the details of what I ate later this evening or tomorrow morning.



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 15 Yeah, but... remember the part where it's a trap?

Going out to eat during this challenge is... well it's a pain in the ass.

With all the errands I have to run for all the birthdays, and finishing touches I need to do for planning our anniversary trip; I can't even think about prepping meals, but going to a restaurant is so much more work than broiling some fish and veggies, so here I go...

I am beat, I think I might be getting sick and all I want to do is sleep... I really hope that Tiger Blood feeling starts to kick in soon...




Lunch-
Ground Beef, Broccoli & Cauliflower Omelet

Dinner-
Broiled Cod w/Summer Squash, Zucchini, & Roasted Potatoes



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 14 Ah, that's just 'cause I'm goin' down too quick. Likely crash and kill us all.

Sometimes my best intentions get squashed and it's so hard to move past it. 

For example, I get up early so I can get into the office early to take care of some maintenance items before anyone logs in, and the boss' car is in the parking lot when I arrive... and she's logged in...

It's not even worth it to ask her to log out because in the time it takes to explain why, the purchasing team is here and they are all logging in...

My allergies are acting up pretty bad today, so maybe that has more to do with my sour mood that anything else...

Anyway, I had a lot to do today at work and after. My grandma's birthday party is this weekend and I've still got to get her a gift and complete several errands... so I better get to it.




Lunch-
Random Scraps...
I went to Costco at lunch so I had to eat a little before I went so I wouldn't torture myself with the smells of the samples.
Chicken, Cucumbers, Celery, Paleo Ranch Dressing, Tuna Salad & Shredded Lettuce

Dinner-
Out with work folks to bid farewell to Sara (I hope you love it in Florida!!!)
Oak City Grille: Burger w/o bun with lot's of lettuce, tomato & onion sub fries for the oven roasted potatoes.




Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 13 About 20 seconds from spitting distance.

Day 13 and peachy keen...

I kept pretty busy today with work and little projects.

My husband and I are planning a trip for our 1st Wedding Anniversary and I did a LOT of research into the best places to stay in Michigan (excluding Detroit, since we live 10 minutes from the city)...

So far we've got a night booked in Frankenmuth and one in Traverse City. I'm thinking we might add a night in Grand Rapids and make it a sort of Pure Michigan Brewery Tour... We'd go to Frankenmuth Brewery, Short's Brewery and Founder's Brewery... 

I'm not having nearly as hard of a time with the Whole30 this time around as I have in the past... I'm not craving sweets or cheese or bread physically or mentally. I know that could change overnight, but I am happy with being at peace with it all in this moment...


I need to figure out a better way to do eggs at work though. My tools are microwave or toaster oven (preferred) and so far no amount of oiling the dish is keeping the eggs from sticking really badly. Maybe I need to get a non-stick metal baking dish instead of my Pyrex? Or I need to talk my boss into buying a small electric stove or a hotplate so I can make yummy fried eggs...

That'll happen :) 




Lunch-
Pork Meatloaf w/Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans


Dinner-
Beef Stew w/Potatoes & Carrots




Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 8-12 I miss out on all the fun. And all the food, too, apparently!

Busy, busy bee... I've had a lot on my mind and sorta freaked out over the weekend.... and yesterday... It was a four day freak out, but I stuck to my Whole30 guns and didn't medicate with food... just a whole lot of shopping! 


Here is a breakdown of what I ate. I promise to write more betterer on the next posty type thingy. :)



Day 8:

Lunch-
Steak Salad w/Roasted Potatoes & Asparagus


Dinner-
Mahi Mahi w/Peppers, Onions, & Roasted Cauliflower



Day 9:

Lunch-
Giant Garden Salad with tons of veggies and Chicken


Dinner-
Out - Burger off the bun w.Lettuce, Onions, Pickles & Mustard, Plain baked Sweet Potato



Day 10:

Lunch-
Eggs, Bacon & Roasted Potatoes w/Small Salad


Dinner-

Beef & Broccoli Skillet



Day 11:

Lunch-
In major freak-out mode and running around like crazy, I only ate a Larabar... Oops!


Dinner-
Garlic & Herb Flank Steak with Sweet Potato & Roasted Cauliflower



Day 12:

Lunch-
Tuna Salad (made with Paleo Mayo) on Shredded Lettuce with tons of veggies


Dinner-
Mediterranean carry out - Grilled Chicken w/Squash, Carrots & Onions and Salad



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 7 Work, work, work.

I'm so tired... No joke... also coffee w/a tablespoon of coconut milk is good... still so very sleepy though.

Ein so tired... LOL

Coffee never really worked for me like it does for most people. Yes I get a jolt, but it's more like a panic heart pace rather than a feeling of being awake.

I'm seriously dragging here... Maybe I'll feel better after lunch...

Speaking of lunch...


Lunch-
Gold & Sweet Potato Asparagus Frittata w/Celery Sticks


Dinner-
Pork Meatloaf w/Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans




Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 6 I could always say that I was flying the ship by accident.

Today I woke up hungry... I did not have time to grab anything from the stash of raw nuts and dried fruit in my cupboard as I also woke up late... so coffee...

Don't even think these are whole sentences...

Is this words?

I am back in sync with the Whole 30 Timeline and Day 6 is kicking my ass. 
I'm tired... so tir... 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Lunch-
Grilled Chicken Salad w/oil & vinegar
(work took us out for Sara's going away party and I did my best with the limited menu...)


Dinner-
Grilled Chicken w/Broccoli & Salad

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz




Ramble On...

Whole30 Meal Plan Lunches & Dinners

Utilizing the power of leftovers, I created a meal plan for lunches and dinners for my own "personla, perfect" Whole30:

You will see that I planned ahead to go out for dinner on Saturdays, this is because we almost always get an invite to go to a restaurant or over someone's house for dinner. On these days I keep my lunch light and save my protein and most fats for dinner since I'm not able to completely control the quality of the ingredients. When dining out I do ask about prep methods to an extent, but I don't like making it a big deal... I still want to live my life during this challenge, you know?

	Lunch	Dinner
1	Guacamole Omelet w/Shredded Lettuce & Carrot Sticks	Blackened Salmon w/Green Beans & Mashed Sweet Potatoes
2	Garden Salad	Out
3	Grilled Chicken Salad w/Vinegar & Oil	Asparagus & Potato Frittata w/Celery Sticks
4	Blackened Salmon w/Green Beans & Mashed Sweet Potatoes	Steak w/Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Salad
5	Pork Tenderloin w/Asparagus & Salad	Mediterranean Carry Out
6	Strawberry Chicken Salad w/Pecans & "Creamy" Vinaigrette	Grilled Chicken w/Baked Sweet Potato & Green Beans
7	Espresso Rubbed Skirt Steak w/Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli	Pork Meatloaf w/Broccoli & Salad
8	Asparagus & Potato Frittata w/Celery Sticks	Mahi Mahi w/Peppers, Onions, & Roasted Cauliflower
9	Garden Salad	Out
10	Grilled Chicken Salad w/Vinegar & Oil	Broccoli & Cauliflower Omelet w/Celery Sticks
11	Mahi Mahi w/Peppers, Onions, & Roasted Cauliflower	Athena's Chicken & Roasted Carrots & Cauliflower
12	Chop Steak w/Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Salad	Mediterranean Carry Out
13	Greek Style Grilled Chicken Salad	Lamb Stew w/Sweet Potato & Spinach
14	Pork Meatloaf w/Broccoli & Salad	Carne Asada w/Broccoli & Salad
15	Broccoli & Cauliflower Omelet w/Celery Sticks	Cod Parchment Pack w/Summer Squash, Zucchini, & Lemon
16	Garden Salad	Out
17	Grilled Chicken Salad w/Vinegar & Oil	Summer Squash & Onion Quiche w/Cucumber Slices
18	Cod Parchment Pack w/Summer Squash, Zucchini, & Lemon	Fajita Chicken w/Salsa & Guacamole
19	Carne Asada w/Broccoli & Salad	Mediterranean Carry Out
20	Fajita Chicken Salad	Pork Chops w/Roasted Cauliflower & Carrots
21	Lamb Stew w/Sweet Potato & Spinach	Garlic Pepper Flank Steak w/Roasted Potatoes & Salad
22	Summer Squash & Onion "Quiche" w/Cucumber Slices	Blackened Salmon w/Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes & Orange
23	Garden Salad	Out
24	Grilled Chicken Salad w/Vinegar & Oil	Onion Lettuce & Tomato Omelet w/Potatoes & Carrot Sticks
25	Blackened Salmon w/Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes & Orange	Grilled Chicken w/Broccoli & Roasted Cauliflower
26	Garlic Pepper Flank Steak w/Roasted Potatoes & Salad	Mediterranean Carry Out
27	Michigan Salad w/Grilled Chicken	Roasted Turkey Legs w/Smashed Potatoes & Green Beans
28	Pork Chops w/Roasted Cauliflower & Carrots	Beef Stew w/Carrots & Potatoes and Small Salad
29	Onion Lettuce & Tomato Omelet w/Potatoes & Carrot Sticks	Mahi Mahi w/Peppers, Onions, Potatoes & Roasted Cauliflower
30	Garden Salad	Out

Whole30 Day 5 We will blow a new crater in this little moon.

Day 5... 

I'm not feeling super cranky today, though I was a bit pissy toward my husband last night.

I think I may have chosen the perfect timing to begin this as this is also the... how should I say it... the week during the month that a woman... well... hm...

I'll just say, I was going to be cranky and crave junk food this week anyway and rather than go through this twice in a month, scheduling the first week of the Whole30 to coincide with the... week... of... lady time...  well, it's working out to my advantage. :)
I have been loving the food I planned out this time and am almost never feeling major hunger pangs. 

I'm so grateful for resources like nom nom paleo and Pinterest for endless, delicious Whole30 approved recipes so I get to avoid the food boredom that has killed my previous efforts to get healthy.

While I'm not cranky, I am very tired... my neck/shoulder injury took a lot out of me and I'm feeling fatigue from having very little sleep for the past couple weeks. I'm going to take the next few days taking it easy and making simple meals so I don't end up having a meltdown. :)

Lunch-

Blackened Salmon w/Green Beans & Mashed Sweet Potatoes


Dinner-

Mediterranean Carry Out - Lamb Kabobs w/Village Salad & Roasted Squash



Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 2-4 How would you feel about pullin' a Crazy Ivan?

Weekend recap! plus Monday!

Saturday and Sunday, or days 2-3; what the Whole30 timeline indicates is "The Hangover" period of the program, I spent most of my time propped up on pillows trying ice, heat, anti-inflammatory drugs and magnesium supplements trying to get the spasm in my neck to release... 

I was a pretty miserable site to behold. There is still major tightness in my neck, shoulder and upper back, but I am at least mobile now... just in time to return to work! Yay!!!

Last night around 6 I had enough of sitting and trying to hold still so I wouldn't be in pain; I got up and started working on meal prep for the weak and made myself dinner.

Though it took a lot longer and wore me out a lot more than if I had no pain, I got through a big chunk of the veggie chopping for the week and made myself a delicious meal... and some fantastic mayonnaise from scratch (thanks to my hand blender!)

Today was day 4 which is supposed to be a cranky "Kill all of the things" day, and my perfect timing puts day 4 and 5 right at the beginning of my period... I assumed this to be a deadly combo, but so far I am in much higher spirits and holding.

Meal recaps:

Saturday (day 2):

Lunch-
Shredded Lettuce Salad w/Grilled Chicken and Avocado Oil Dressing

Dinner-
11oz Ribeye with Baked Sweet Potato & Green Salad


Sunday (day 3):

Lunch-
3 Fried Eggs, Carrot Sticks, & a handful of Raw Pecan Halves

Dinner-
Skillet Meal - Peppers, Onions & Potatoes w/2 Eggs & Celery Sticks


Monday (day 4):

Lunch-
Pork Tenderloin w/Asparagus & Salad

Dinner- 
Steak w/Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Salad




Ramble On...

Whole30 Day 1 I've been sane a long while now, and change is good.

9/11/2015

I am whole again... Well, Whole30 again...

Inspired by my friend Paige... again and a recent home clutter purge; I decided to get on the Whole30 plan to give a big kick start to my health goals. 

If I can bring myself to put away of all of the excess stuff on my kitchen counters, I should be able to let go of the junk crowding my guts for so long... I've been full of excuses and bad food choices so I am really feeling the need to get my act together and cut the crap.

This time around, I made a plan for the protocol when Day 31 shows up... unlike last time when I treated it like free for all and re-gained most of the weight and all of the back pain, migraines, and fatigue in the span of about two weeks.

How can I guarantee it will be different this time? I can't, but I also can't stop starting over... giving up is not an option... If I am not actively trying to better my health I am slowly sliding further into a pit that only gets harder to escape. 

So, today was Day 1... again... 
and I feel hopeful... again... 
and I'll check in with you all tomorrow... again...


Stats:

Starting Line-

254 lbs
Size 20 jeans 
Constant back pain
Regular heartburn and belching
Pressure headaches nearly everyday
Always tired
Knees clicking going up stairs
Exercise induced asthma

For reference, I am 5'2" tall... No strict food overhaul or workout plan can change that, sadly. 



Food:


Breakfast-
Coffee (because I practice Intermittent Fasting - really... read about it here Nerd Fitness - Intermittent Fasting)




Lunch-
Baked Eggs w/Avocado, Shredded Lettuce & Carrot Sticks



Dinner-
Cedar Plank Salmon w/Green Beans & Mashed Sweet Potato




Ramble On...