Dietary Rumspringa...

Yeah. So I wanted my next post to be about movement and strength and exercise and... and...

Well, instead I have to need to stop and confess chat with you about something.

I was so confident, after such a bee-you-tee-ful Whole30, that I had kicked all of my food issues to the curb.  I mean I completed the program, with not one desire to cheat, nary a craving in sight.  I knew all the right words and ways to think about food and the vice that it can have on a person.  I had purposed in my heart that I would never again eat this or drink that and well, for some part, I've stayed true to that.

However, for one thing, I did not do the reintroduction that is designed to help you figure out to which foods you may be intolerant.  I decided I would just jump in and have some Pho and you know about that experience, but since then I've had other things like RICE (of course) and maybe some dairy and foods at a buffet that were "outwardly compliant", but only the good lord knows what they were marinated in or what they actually contained.  And there may have been a very yummy cookie that my mother-in-law brought us from Costco.  I refrained. At first.  But I only had one.  And then there was the taco guy at the retirement party. I could have totally skipped the tortillas and beans.  I could have said no to the ice cream cake... but I didn't.

Okay, I may not even be making sense and my grammar is probably out of control right now, but I am spilling my guts here.  Have mercy.  I know that most people would not think that I have any reason to feel guilty, 'cause hey - I'm not curently on Whole30.  But somehow, these bad CHOICES have made me feel like an Amish teenager on Rumspringa.

I knew that I would feel crappy after consuming some of these items and for over-indulging even on foods that may have been okay, and I ate it anyway.  I guess I'm writing this post to OWN my choices.  To kind of just say it out loud.  "I messed up.  I let the food control me."

So am I going to just throw in the towel? No. Am I going to wait until the 1st of the month to start over? No.  I am starting today. I know I have some special events coming up and sure, it would be easy to wait until those celebrations have passed, but I can't.  I don't want to.  I know that I need to take the control back.  Like Rumspringa - I have to make a decision.  Do I want to beat these bad life habits? Do I want to cut the negative emotional ties I have with food? YES!! I want to remind myself that the food I put in my body will either make me more healthy or less healthy.  It's that simple.  The work I do in my head and heart regarding how I feel about it all - that's something I will continue to work on.

So - I am going to post a photo from my first round of Whole 30.  I did not include this before and have not posted it publicly, except to a closed group of Whole30 peeps.  But I want to go ahead and post it because it reminds me of how hard I worked for my first round.  I posted about all of my "non-scale" victories, but now I am posting this.  It may not seem like a huge change, but it's a change and I want to keep going. I don't want to stall this and I don't want to go backwards.

It is my hope that I can be transparent to help motivate YOU and to also remind ME that I am capable of doing this!

Whole 30 | 30 Things | Day 31

30 things on Whole 30:

1. Weight loss was NOT the main goal, but it was one of my goals and I am happy to report that I lost 16.7 lbs.  I know that my clothes fit looser, but I did not measure myself so I'm not sure about inches.  
2. Being prepared MAY be the most important requirement for a successful Whole 30. Meal planning is so important.  Do not go into this with an empty refrigerator or pantry.  Research what foods are allowed, check EVERY label - even on your spices and sauces - and then check again. You'd be surprised what all is added to seemingly healthy foods.  I found soy and sugar in almost everything that was packaged/canned.
3. Going cold turkey is the way to go.  There is no "slowly weaning" yourself off sugar, grains, frappucinos, dairy, etc.  Starting on Day 1 there is NO MORE of that.  You can't even make paleo versions of those items like paleo "muffins" or paleo "breadsticks".  This was great for me 'cause I don't do well with moderation when it comes to food right now.  I am getting better at it, but I follow the meal template guide I've posted about before and that is it.  
4. My blood pressure is healthy again, my joints do not hurt and I do not get my frequent headaches anymore.  Seriously.  I used to get thee worst migraine and tension headaches.  They are completely gone.  
5. I don't ever feel hungry.  On Whole 30, you eat 3 solid meals a day.  That's it. No snacking, no grazing... If you follow the meal template as I have mentioned so many times - you will be full! The key to staying full, I learned, is having enough healthy fats.  Also, no HANGRYness (being angry because you're hungry).
6. Roast all the things.  I haven't met a vegetable yet that doesn't taste better when roasted. This goes with meat too.  
7. Sweet potatoes make me happy.
8. My skin is clearer and more supple than it's been in years. I think this is due to the healthy fats and lots of water mostly.
9. My joints don't hurt anymore.  I don't feel like I'm inflamed.
10. You can celebrate an event and still stay compliant and eat well. Not every situation has to be a "special event" where you eat off plan.  I was able to go to Universal Studios, attend a birthday party, go to a beach, go out to eat with old friends from college and celebrate Easter all while staying on plan.  It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  Again, I had to plan - I had to prepare, but it was totally do-able and I felt empowered after sticking to it!
11. Homemade mayo is SO easy and yummy.
12. I have more energy throughout the day.  I am still working on sleeping better.  I sleep great once I GO TO SLEEP, but I stay up too late due to my crazy schedule.  Working on that!!
13. I was constantly cooking and thinking about food.  Now this was a part of Whole 30 that I didn't love. I love to cook, and usually cooked at least one meal a day before the life of Whole 30.  But now I was cooking enough for 3 meals a day.  This meant that if I had any spare time after my full-time outside the home job, raising 4 children, etc. I was either cooking or planning on what to cook or shopping for stuff to cook.  This also meant a lot more DISHES to wash. My two oldest usually do this as one of their "chores" but it got to the point where I'd wash most of it out of pity for them! haha.  I don't regret any of it.  Just gets old pretty quick.  I think it will be easier once I get to a schedule where I can do some larger "batch" cooking and just spend a few hours one day to prep for the week ahead.  Working on that too.
14. Learned the difference between real hunger and boredom or eating out of habit.  Having 3 meals a day that were satisfying to my taste and also filled me kept me from really ever feeling hungry, however I did find myself once in a while wanting a snack or "something" just out of the blue.  Instead of reaching for something right away, I stopped and asked myself what it was that I really wanted and why.  It could have been something that was a "trigger" from a t.v. show or commercial or maybe somebody else was talking about it.  For this reason, I unfollowed every Pinterest board that had anything to do with non-compliant foods.  I literally went to every person's board I was following and either unfollowed them altogether or unfollowed their food/recipe boards.  If I was still truly hungry, I ate a handful of nuts.  I think it happened twice.  I also kicked the habit of chewing gum and eating mints/candy.  These contain sugar or artificial sweeteners and also make my brain think that more food is coming, therefore causing me to want more sweets or snacks.  It didn't make me healthier - so it had to go.
15. Avocados and olives are beautiful. Like for real.  They are my favorite thing to add to any meal.  Healthy fats. That's where it's at.
16. I'm being a good example to my family.  Not by obsessing and spending every waking hour thinking about or preparing food, but by being very conscientious about what I am putting into my system.  I know that it will all become easier and will become a normal way of life for us and I won't spend so much time on it, but I like that they can see that it takes effort in this grab n' go and convenience food society in which we live.  It is a CHOICE toward better health.  It's up to us.  Just like teaching them other good lifestyle habits.  It is so important!
17. It's important to know why eating this way works.  READ and educate yourself.  I recommend you begin with "It Starts With Food" by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. This may seem like a "fad diet" right now because it has recently become more popular, but this way of eating has been around for a long time and I really feel that after all I've read and researched - it's the best thing for me. 
18. Spices are the spice of life.  I've tried, and now love, so many new herbs and spices.  No more Lawry's season salt or pre-mixed whatever.  If I do use a pre-mix I always check the label. There is almost always sugar mixed in somewhere. I love the Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute.
19. I no longer drink or even crave soda.  I drank diet soda and Mt. Dew on a regular basis.  I knew even when I drank it that it was trash.  I now drink either water, flavored seltzer water (like LaCroix) or Kombucha.  I don't miss it at all.
20. Simple meals don't have to be boring meals.  I can do chicken breast and green beans, but then I'll throw some red beets in there or something like that just to add color.  Makes a difference.  Try it!
21. Speaking of beets, I've learned to eat so many new and healthy things because of eating paleo and Whole 30. Just to name a few: Kombucha, red beets, golden beets, fennel, Bulletproof Coffee, Coconut milk, Curry, sardines, and the list goes on.  You can retrain your taste buds, you know.  
22. I've recognized my emotional reliance on food.  Food has always been the center of celebrations, comfort after a hard day, reward for a job well done and so on.  Now I know that food is FUEL for my body.  It can still be something I enjoy, but I need to focus less on the food part and more on all the FEELS part.  The people. The moments.  Catch my drift?
23. I realized that I may end up losing my Starbucks Gold Card status and I'm okay with it.  That is huge. haha.
24. Thoughts are more clear.  Less brain fog.
25. Good kitchen gadgets are a plus! My most used items: Cast iron pans, blender, veggie slicer/grater and immersion blender.
26. All the info you need to do the Whole30 challenge can be found at this website.  And it is completely FREE.  
27. You can become addicted to Farmers Markets.  That's not a bad thing!
28. You can't eat too many eggs and there are zillion different ways to prepare them!
29. That bloated and gassy feeling is GONE.  Don't laugh. You know what I'm talking about. It's gone!!
30. Eating this way and seeing the results has given me hope that I can be healthy and fit once again.  Whole 30 is not meant to be something you do forever. But I will be sticking as close to it as I possibly can. It really doesn't make sense to do it any other way.  As they say, "The food you eat either makes you more healthy or less healthy. Those are your options."

Sauteed Fennel, Golden Apple, Lime Juice, Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper

Beets: Red and Gold

Fingerling and Baby Potatoes tossed in Ghee and sprinkled with herbs

Dinosaur kale and Beet Stems

Look at that color!

My dinner on Day 30
Grilled boneless pork chops, red and gold beets, fingerling potatoes, sauteed kale and beet stems and sauteed sliced fennel and apple with lime juice.

So, have you ever done the Whole30?  Would you like to? You can do anything for 30 days! 

If I can, you can!

Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

This is a recipe I found on Pinterest.  I love cooking and am very comfortable in the kitchen and mostly use recipes as a guide.  I never follow any of them exactly which is precisely why I'm not a baker. haha.  Here are the ingredients, but you can click on this LINK to her blog for the exact directions.  

INGREDIENTS:
250 gm of cleaned and cubed chicken pieces 
1 cup of sliced onions 
2 tbsp of oil (I use coconut oil) 
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder 
1 tsp of cumin powder 
2 tsp of coriander powder 
1/2 tsp of red chilli powder 
1" piece of ginger (I used powdered because I forgot this item)
2 green chillies (adjust to taste) 
2 flakes of garlic 
A few cubes of ripe tomato 
1 tbsp of poppy seeds, soaked for 15 mins (see notes) (didn't have ANY and thought I did)
2 cups of thin coconut milk (see notes)
1 cup of thick coconut milk 
A small bunch of chopped coriander leaves, for garnish (Cilantro)

This is my cauliflower rice.  I just raw cauliflower and hand grate it on my cheese grater. Then I get my pan hot with a bit of EVOO and start cooking my rice in it.  I add seasonings too of course.  Just keep moving it around until it's tender and then serve.  It will never BE rice, but it's a nice replacement. And that's coming from ME. The RICE lover.

This dish was so good that I made it three times on the Whole 30!  Quick, easy and full of flavor...

Whole 30 | Choices | Day 22

Here I am at Day 22.  Just 8 more days to go on this Whole 30 - but then what? 

Whole 30 is an elimination diet in which many people choose to participate for 30 days or longer. The idea is to assess your food sensitivities/intolerances while changing your eating habits for the better. The fact that you lose weight and inches because of it is just a bonus!

There is a meal template to follow and that has been a real eye-opener.

I love the meal template because it really makes portion control very simple.  It is SO important that you eat this amount (at least) every meal.  Some people feel like it's a lot of food, but in reality - it is a lot of NUTRITION.  It is fuel and you need it.  If you don't eat enough, chances are you will not have the results you are looking for, you will not lose weight as well, and you will be hungry before your next meal. Snacking is discouraged on this plan.

I've lasted this long without sugar, dairy, grains, legumes or processed foods. There's only a few things I miss and luckily I don't think they are food items to which I have any adverse reactions.  The things I miss are: RICE (shocker) and  some dairy like Greek yogurt and cheese.  That's it.  Oh and Korean food which may contain soy or sugar here and there, but yeah...

On Day 19, I went on an all-day trip with some of my girlfriends to Universal Studios.  I knew that I would have to really prepare in order to stay on plan.  I went on their website ahead of time and found out that you can bring your own food, but there was a size limit on your container and you couldn't bring in glass, etc.  

I ended up making a huge batch of chicken salad with homemade mayo, mustard, almond slivers and grapes - the kind you would put on a croissant.  Hannah was also going on the trip and wanted to stay compliant, so I packed for two.  I also brought carrots and little packs of Wholly Guacamole, sliced apples and almond butter.  We were able to take water bottles into the park and get refills throughout the day.  
The food was perfect and we were able to save money too!  We did get an unsweetened tea at the coffee shop when everybody took a little break.  It was refreshing and felt like a treat for me.

One cool thing that happened besides the TON of walking we did there was my good friend Vicki talked me into taking the stairs from the lower level to the top.  These are not ordinary stairs! There are escalators (4 sets) that run right along the side of the stairs.  I decided to go for it!! Oh my word, by the end of the second one I thought I was going to kill over!  My dear sweet friend all of a sudden turned into Jillian Michaels from Biggest Loser and the next thing you know she's in my face cheering me on. My friends on the escalator were cheering too.  I did make it to the top of the third flight of stiars (360 steps straight up) and decided that it was enough, but I was so proud of myself for just making that choice.  
Once I caught my breath, I really felt great! haha.  

I think you get the idea!! It's basically about making good choices.  MOVING.  Controlling your food and not letting it control you.  When I was first invited to this event, my first thought was that I couldn't do it because of Whole 30.  Then I realized that I want this way of eating to be a lifestyle.  I don't want to avoid making great memories with friends because of FOOD.  Being conscientious about what we put into our systems is what we should always be concerned about.  I don't want to wait until I've been diagnosed with some illness and then be FORCED to follow some sort of strict diet.  I mean, the high blood pressure warning was enough for me! 

If you are intrigued by this plan yet - don't hesitate! Get over to my side bar and click the Whole 30 link.  All the info is FREE.  There are also support pages and forums that will help you.  Of course you know I am always here for you too!   It's not has hard as you think.  You can do it.  You just have to make that choice!!

Whole 30 | Spring Cleaning | Day 15

So here I am at DAY 15!! Half-way mark for me and for my awesome daughter Hannah!!  I'm so glad to say that we are still going strong and have stayed totally compliant and on board since Day 1.

I went to the Farmer's Market this weekend and didn't even realize it was the first day of spring until I was there and overheard someone mention it.  It really got me to thinking about spring cleaning!  I am so glad that I have been "spring cleaning" my insides, but just as nice - I got home and decided to really, REALLY clean out my fridge so I could make room for the amazing produce I picked up.  I sure did have a lot of junk in there!!  No - literally junk.  Sauces that were from WHO KNOWS WHEN OR WHAT EVENT??!! Yuck.  Out it went.  

After I got every single inch of it sparkling clean I filled it back up with all of the beautiful produce and nutritious foods that I have been learning to use.  It made me so happy!  I am now wanting to do the same to my pantry and work on a way of organizing it all so that things don't go to waste. 

I even bought BEETS for the first time. Here they are with a beautiful head of cauliflower, fresh avocados (I love California), broccoli and two different kinds of kale!!  Doesn't it look great?

I also want to continue to share a few of my meals with you just so you can see what I've been munching on!  I've been very good about taking a good breakfast with me to work. Some days I have time to scramble up some eggs, meat and veggies and other days I just grab hard-boiled eggs, Aidells mini chicken/apple sausages, a few dry roasted nuts (no peanuts!!) and fruit.  Eat a meal that is compliant and fills you so that you are not hungry until your next meal.  No snacking.  Break that habit!! I also have one cup of coffee with coconut cream that I shake up in my blender cup for a nice frothy latte feel.

If I am home for breakfast, I can take a little more time to make a breakfast, but still often use left-overs as part of my meal.  People eat breakfast for dinner all the time - but heaven forbid you eat dinner for breakfast! haha.  Pictured here is some scrambled egg, cut up leftover steak and potatoes and Super Green for fun! I also have Bulletproof Coffee which is just coffee, two spoons of coconut oil, two spoons of ghee (clarified butter) emulsified with the blender.  Yum-o!

Here's the original meal from the night before.  Grilled steak and golden potatoes that were first boiled and then placed on a cookie sheet, gave them each a smash with a fork and then drizzled them with a little olive oil and sea salt and popped them under the broiler.  Crispy! Also had some of my Super Green mix which is kale, zucchini and brussels sprouts.

For lunch the next day, I took a little ground beef, one egg and scoop of left-over Super Green and made two hamburger patties out of it and grilled it up on my cast-iron skillet. Served it up on some lettuce leaves with some pickled artichokes and mustard as condiment.  Totally filling and totally compliant.

As for how I'm feeling on this Whole30 so far...

I definitely feel like I'm experiencing lots of energy and being alert. However, I did have a couple nights recently where I was just drained, but I've been doing a lot too.

My skin feels a lot better and I think it looks better - more moisturized.  I'm not really wanting to snack - I stay full as you can see.  I am craving Korean food though - but what's new? I like RICE remember?  Sadly the thing I am craving the most is made with SOY BEAN PASTE, so I will have to wait until I am not doing Whole 30.  And here's an odd, but nice thing.  I have not had any gum, mints or candy because of course it's not compliant, but my breath and mouth usually feel pretty clean and fresh!! I'm sure there's something to that - I'm just glad it's working in my favor!

I'm drinking tons of water and learning to try new things.  Like the BEETS in the picture above.  I don't even know what I'm going to make with it yet - well BEETS obviously, but how should I prepare it??

Tell me in the comments!! Thanks for sticking around for this super-long post! xo

Hobo Dinner - Whole 30 Compliant

I'm basically in love with the colors in these photos. That's really the only reason I'm even posting this! Ha. Just kidding. It's a yummy, easy meal that the whole family will like, but still. Very colorful!

Peel and cut up all your root veggies and chop up any other veggies you want to add. I added bell pepper, golden potatoes and celery too.

I used Rainbow Carrots.  I'm obsessed with these!

Cook up some ground beef or turkey and drain any fat.  Season liberally. 

Add all veggies and cook until veggies are soft, but not soggy.  

I added a bit of arrowroot powder (mixed with water) 'cause I thought it might make a gravy, but I didn't really care for it and it didn't need it - so just ignore that I even brought that up!!  

Side of avocado for some extra healthy fats!

Serve just like that! No need for rice or pasta or anything else.  

Heats up really nice for leftovers too!

Easy Slow-Cooker Roast Beef - Whole 30 Style

Slow cooker recipes don't have to have a can of fake mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup added to them! This recipe is a classic, but I used to add a can of mushroom soup to it and an envelope of fake onion soup as well.  Yuck! No more of that!!

Chop up veggies. I used carrots, celery, onion, and bell pepper.

Sprinkle herbs and spices on top.

Dump some of your favorite marinara sauce on top. 

I used Trader Joe's Marinara  28 oz. can (Whole 30 compliant)

I used about half of that.

Put on low and cook for 6 hours.

SO good. Served here with Cauliflower Mash.

Could also add a lot more root vegetables if you have them.

ENJOY!

Whole 30 | NSV | Day 9

Of course I have some awesome food shots to share with you, but I also wanted to share some NSVs with you. NSV=Non Scale Victory

You are not to weigh or measure yourself during your Whole 30 challenge.  This helps you to get over the mindset that you're doing this just for weight-loss. Have you ever been dieting or working out a lot and your scale tips up instead of down one morning or two? 
For some people, that may motivate them to push harder, but for me, it would discourage me and make me feel like I was suffering for nothing and I'd give up. 

So, let's focus on the NSV: 

• bloated feeling completely gone
• full after each meal - hardly any cravings for non-compliant foods
• almost no headaches (used to get a few a week) now I've had one in 9 days and it was very mild. 
• my face was really drying out and now it feels so much better and looks better too! More clear!
• sleeping better-waking up feeling rested
• energy throughout the day

These things totally mean more to me than numbers on a scale.

Almond Crusted Herbed Salmon with a Super Green Roasted Veggie Mix 

Salmon:

1+ lb. Wild Caught Salmon Filets (I used 4 filets)

1/2 cup crushed almonds (I used dry roasted almonds and popped them in the food processor)

1+ Tbs. Italian Seasoning

1 Tbs. Dry Dill

Sea Salt

Juice from 1/2 Lemon

Ghee (Clarified Butter is fine)

Heat oven to 400*

Prep:

I used a glass baking dish. Coated it first with a bit of melted ghee or EVOO. 

Directions:

Lay filets skin side down in dish and squeeze 1/2 lemon over all of them. Remove seeds 'cause you forgot to pick them out when you first cut the lemon.

Season each filet with the Italian, Dill and Sea Salt and then maybe more Italian.  *see what brand I use in the recipe below*

Coat each filet with the crushed almonds.  You could also use Almond Flour/Meal if you wanna. 

Drizzle melted Ghee over each filet.

Bake in oven for about 15 minutes

If crust does not look golden, you could pop it under the broiler for about 5 minutes which is what I did.  You want that nice crust without over-cooking the fish.

ENJOY!!

Super Greens:

3 cups chopped Kale (try to avoid having any tough stems in the mix)

4 small zucchini

2 cups fresh Brussels sprouts

Crushed Red Pepper

1 Tbsp Finely Chopped Garlic

Course Sea Salt

EVOO

Ghee

*water or chicken broth

Prep:

Chop all vegetables into bite-sized pieces.  Be sure to remove some of the thick stems from your kale. I had a few that snuck in.  They're just annoying and difficult to chew - so ditch them.

I cut my brussels sprouts in half and if they are large, I even quarter them.  This helps them to cook up a little faster and you also get some loose leaves that get a nice roast on them, which I really like.

Directions:

Place all chopped veggies, except Kale, in a bowl and drizzle with Olive Oil.  Add your seasonings.  I love the McCormick Grinders and use the Italian and Crushed Red Pepper ones all the time!

Then I use my hands to toss them all together, making sure every piece is evenly coated in goodness.

Once you get these in the pan, you will do the same with the kale - it just goes in later.

**This cooks up pretty quick, so it's best if you put  the more dense vegetables in first.

Heat pan or skillet (I use a huge cast-iron skillet that I LOVE) and keep at a medium heat.

Throw the brussels sprouts and zucchini in there and let it cook. Do not cover at all.  You don't want them getting mushy, but if you feel like you need to hurry the process - splash some water or chicken broth in there and it will give them a real good steam treatment.

Cook and maybe move them every 7 minutes or so.  I like the number 7. When they look like they can be pierced with a fork - or maybe just try that - then you can add the kale.  

Just pile it all on there.  Let the pan over-flow if you want 'cause it will all cook down.  

Just keep tossing it all around in there until it's the consistency you want.  Add a bit of Ghee for flavor if you want. I put it on errthang.

Gobble it up!!

Whole 30 | New Habits | Day 8

Learning to LOVE some new habits...

This is the BEFORE and AFTER of my desk drawer at work.

I tried - for a very short few weeks - to do a low-calorie diet and count and track all of my calories. This may be very good and well for some people, but it was horrible for me.  I was buying frozen diet meals and snacks that I had never eaten before.  They were not filling or satisfying in taste.  I also felt like it really took all of the thought process of eating out of the picture.  

So in the first picture I've got my flavored coffees and low-calorie snacks and in the second picture, a bit of salt for my hard-boiled eggs, a paring knife for my fruit, plain black coffee, teas and vitamin supplements called Damage Control.  These are Whole 30 compliant.

I love coffee. Love it.  But I got to where I could hardly ever drink it anymore unless it was sweetened with flavored creamer.  When I started calorie counting or eating "low-carb", I'd buy the same fakey creamer, but I'd get the Sugar-Free version.  Ugh.

On Whole30, you are not to have ANY added sugars or sweeteners of any form. This includes honey, stevia, Splenda, aspartame, etc. I saw on the support forum that a lot of people doing Whole 30 or Paleo like to add a bit of Coconut cream/milk to their teas and coffees.  I tried this the first week, but could only handle a few sips before I lost interest.  The cream looked like it had curdled and would separate and I felt like the black coffee was tasting like I imagine an ashtray would.  Strange, I know! haha!  Then I read that people actually pop their coffee into the blender or in a shaker to really get the cream blended into the coffee.  Eureka!! Back in the game!  Comes out like a LATTE and I love it. Sticking to just one cup a day, but it's a cup I enjoy and can finish.

Kombucha.  If you've never had this - you should at least give it a try.  First time I tried it, I gagged. It is basically fermented tea.  I tried a new flavor and guess what??  La la LOVE it.  Seriously. Addicted.  It's great for your gut, it's refreshing and it is compliant.  WINNING all around!

This is the only other drink I've really had other than plain water and coffee these last 8 days.

Farmer's Markets. Okay, it is no shocker that I love Farmer's Markets and better quality foods grocery stores like Trader Joe's and Sprouts, but when it comes to a lot of it - let's just say that I admired it from afar.  Hey.  It's not easy trying to keep a tight budget when you are feeding 6 people of all ages and sizes with crazy, busy schedules.  Don't even get me started on how CHEAP the cr*p food is and in comparison to whole, organic or natural foods.  Watch the documentary FOOD Inc and you'll get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Well, after talking to Marco, we both agreed that it would be better for us to start buying meats and produce that are more natural and less processed, hormoned to death and covered in chemicals.  Is it going to be tough? Maybe.  Will the portions be smaller? Most likely. We won't have NUCLEAR chicken anymore which is what we buy at our regular grocers.  That's the chicken that is just so huge it could pass for a turkey.  Yeah, it goes a long way, but we just don't feel good about that now that we know just how bad it really is.  These are all personal choices and I don't blame anybody that has to try and make the dollar stretch, but we know that for us - we have to at least try.  It may be just a little decision here, a little change there, but we're doing it!

Besides, it's hard to resist the natural colors and tastes that come from unaltered foods.

Along with these changes, I've also:

• stopped chewing gum and eating mints/candy - can't have the sweeteners and it just sends crazy mixed messages to your brain making you think you want something sweet or that more food is coming
• stopped eating fast food - for one, it's too difficult to find compliant foods (see the Carnitas post about Chipotle) and two - it is an easy way out.  I need to be thoughtful and this pushes me to plan ahead.
• stopped drinking soda/diet soda/sweet tea - not allowed and I'm glad.  I don't mind the water one bit.
• stopped having a late night snack or dessert - I wasn't a big snacker before, but I loved a bowl of ice cream or even a bowl of cereal late at night.
• stopped weighing myself - it's not allowed during Whole30 and I don't want to obsess over it anyway
• started making a conscientious effort to move more - I have a desk job. I sit almost all day. So I make myself get up and walk, bend, reach as much as I can. 
• started paying attention to how I feel when I wake up, after I eat, during/after exercise - just being more aware of my body has really helped me clear my mind
• started reading every.single.label that I can - I used to make the price a priority. Now it's the ingredients that I care about most.

So what do you think?  What changes have you made or would you like to make?

Whole 30 | Yummy Eats | Day 4 - 7

One thing I decided at the beginning of this was that I was not going to obsess over this blog and the way that I chose to record my progress.  Those of you that know me in real life probably know why I have to give myself that permission!

If I miss a post or get a post out of order, it would normally keep me from going forward on the blog. OCD issue, I guess, but I don't want it to be a stumbling block in my sharing or recording - so we get what we get.  Life is busy and sometimes you can't stop to post a photo or thought!

I thought I'd share some of what I have been eating lately.  We are a family of 6.  My husband and I and four kids ages 19, 15, 9 and 7.  

My husband is not currently doing the Whole30 with me, but Hannah, my 19 year old is on Day 8 with me. 

Marco has been doing very well though with what I would call a low-carb way of eating.  He has cut out all bread and has not had one soda in 8 days!!

Taryn is very active with swim and hasn't really changed up her eating habits and his happy with anything I make for dinner.

The two youngers are a different story.  They have been doing alright with what I've been serving and I am not the type that will stop and make another meal for a picky eater - so they make do!

Oven-roasted chicken wings, fresh green beans and sweet potato

Roast Chicken, Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, canned green beans (only gb and water), sweet potato

Lunch: Grilled chicken tenderloin salad with veggies and strawberries - topped with salsa

Left-over sweet potato with ghee

Stewed chicken and vegetables with avocado

Breakfast at work: Hard-boiled eggs, Aidells chicken and apple mini sausage (compliant), avocado and sweet pepper for color and crunch. 

Coffee with a bit of Coconut Cream.  No sweetener or sugars added.  Shaken.

Whole 30 has a suggested Meal Template that I try to follow.  On Whole30, you are encouraged to eat 3 meals a day without snacking.  I was never much of a snacker, but found that I began to look forward to regular "snack times" at work because that's what everyone was doing. ha! I also was not eating a very filling or nutritious breakfast or lunch and so that led to me being hungry just a couple hours after I had eaten.

This new mindset has really helped me a lot in just these short 8 days.  I am really starting to see how food addiction and emotional eating are really a mind thing.  Not that it doesn't exist, but that we can re-train or re-direct our minds and our stomachs WILL follow.  More in a later post about all of that!