On the Road to Whole30

A Long List Means the Wrong List! After taking an 8 day hiatus from blogging, I have returned just in time to celebrate the fact that after today I have just 1 day left before I complete my second round of Whole30!!!  It's hard to believe how fast the past 28 days have gone.  This past week was a whirlwind between work, school, helping my parents get started with moving into their new home, celebrating my niece's baptism, having friends over to grill out and having my niece and nephew over for an afternoon to play.  I can proudly admit that I have been around a ton of noncompliant food and still haven't been led astray from my Whole30 plan (though there were times this past week I wanted to throw in the towel)!   While continuing on the path to Whole30 compliance, I have come to realize that though this reset may seem restrictive in the fact I have had to eliminate many foods altogether, there are some areas in which it allows me a sense of freedom.  Unlike other p

It's the Little Things... When the thought of quitting Whole30 crosses my mind, I remind myself of the little things called non-scale victories (NSVs) I have noticed throughout my journey.  Since I can't step on the scale or measure myself for the full 30 days, I have to rely on the little things to tell if Whole30 is making any sort of impact.  I can assure you it is and I will not be disappointed when I do finally step on the scale and take measurements on May 2nd!  NSVs come in many forms.  Mood, emotions, psychology, physical (inside and outside), food behaviors, brain function, sleep, energy, exercise, sports, lifestyle and social are the many areas in which one may witness NSVs.  To date, I have noticed fewer sugar and carb cravings, feeling a sense of control over food, glowing skin, whiter teeth, faster growing and healthier fingernails, flatter stomach, looser clothing, less bloating, no more food guilt or shame, sleeping more soundly and no more mid-day energ

To Cheat or Not to Cheat... I have kept a food journal of everything I have eaten in my "Whole30 Day by Day" book.  Not because Whole30 requires me to, but because I wanted to have something to refer back to for my blog entries.  With each day, the book provides a synopsis of what to expect for the day, motivation and inspiration, FAQs, tips, hacks, extra credit and then some questions to answer.  The questions include documenting what went well that day, what could have gone better, what I'll do tomorrow, etc.  Most days my response to what could have gone better is that I should have snacked less.  I then follow that with a response to what I'll do tomorrow by stating I will change my habits and reduce and/or eliminate snacking altogether.  However, the next day comes and goes and I still find myself snacking just as the day before.  When I say I snack, that doesn't mean I am eating out of the lines of Whole30.  I typically resort to a Larabar, pickle, carr

Another Week in the Books! Week 2 has come and gone...  I am now at the halfway point at Day 15 and couldn't be more excited about where I'm at physically!  My skin is clearing up and my clothes are beginning to feel looser.  My energy is slowly increasing and my cravings have completely subsided.  I can tell I have come a long way since Day 1 as I trusted myself enough on Friday to venture to Omaha after work for an impromptu shopping trip without taking any Whole30 compliant food along.  My first stop was Village Pointe to find more weather appropriate attire to wear to my cousin's wedding the following day as there was a blizzard forecasted.  I decided my short dress and heels were not going to cut it!  After a successful trip to the mall, I made my way to Hy-Vee to complete my grocery shopping for the week ahead.  Before hitting the checkouts, I threw in a few Whole30 compliant foods to enjoy during the trip back to Home Sweet Howells!  (Don't mind how dry

The Highs and Lows... Today marks Day 11.  I have hit the "hardest days" and wow, can I tell!  My emotions are running high, my energy low and my confidence and attitude even lower.  Per my "Whole30 Day by Day" book, one is most likely to quit Whole30 on Days 10 or 11.  The only thing preventing me from quitting, quite honestly, is this blog.  I committed to completing my second round of Whole30 not only to myself, but to each one of you who are reading this.  Thankfully, I made that commitment as it is what I am clinging to on these hard days! Before I began this journey, I was asked to recruit my Whole30 support team in one of my books.  The book suggested adding individuals such as a mom, best friend, co-worker, etc.  Knowing how my first round went down (my entire family thought I was nuts), I left the page blank.  What I have come to learn is that this blog is my support team!  It allows me to express how things are going, lets me vent when I hit a roa

What to Expect When You're Whole30'ing... Let me tell you...  Whole30 is NOT easy!!!  It takes A LOT of commitment and control to successfully complete a round.  I can literally transform from calm to crazy mad within seconds.  On our way home from Hastings yesterday, we made a stop at the Columbus Hy-Vee so I could stock up on more Whole30 compliant groceries for the upcoming week.  To save time, I asked Mike to go to the meat counter and get 2 chicken kabobs for dinner because not only were they compliant, but I would earn Fuel Saver points.  It was a win-win (so I thought)!  When we were 3 miles from home, I learned Mike picked out marinated chicken breasts.  Marinated chicken breasts meant noncompliant chicken breasts.  I about lost it!  Was he not paying attention to me as I was meticulously reading every label to review ingredients and putting countless items back on the shelf due to their noncompliance?  Needless to say, I will be sure to be the one who puts ALL gro

Focus on What You CAN and Not on What You Can't... After 5 successful days, I am on to conquering my first of 4 weekends.  The past 5 weekdays were relatively simple as I was in a routine and in somewhat of a bubble.  I packed my breakfast and lunch every day for work and was home every evening for dinner.  This weekend, however, is going to be a bit more difficult as we will be celebrating our nephew's First Communion.  Therefore, I must take Whole30 on the road.  This will be my first official "social event" since beginning Whole30 with another difficult one to follow next weekend...a family wedding.  However, when I chose these 30 days for my Whole30, I knew what I was up against.  Sadly, this was about as "free" and "easy" as our schedule gets these days. In anticipation for this weekend and next, I have been having pep talks with myself reminding me to focus on what I CAN eat and not on what I can't eat.  Though I can't have t

Stats and Starting Lineup Whole30 is officially underway!!!    My starting stats were less than appealing as I measured in at 148 total inches.  This measurement includes my bust, waist, hips and both arms.  Nonetheless, it can only get better from here!  "Look in the mirror...that's your competition." To make this journey seem a bit less lonely, I invested in a few trusty companions to help me get through these next 30 days.  My first Whole30 purchase was a box of Tessemae's compliant condiments and dressings which just so happened to arrive on Monday.  So far, I have only tried the creamy ranch dressing on my taco toss salad last evening for dinner, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I am looking forward to trying the others!     I have also invested in three resources and guides to help me stay fresh on my Whole30 knowledge.  "The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom" book covers everything from an introduct

'Twas the Night Before Whole30 'Twas the night before Whole30, and all through my head... Were thoughts of what I should eat, before I turn in for bed. For when I awake, the restrictions shall begin... Body measurements will be taken, followed by a pre-Whole30 weigh in. Weekly meals are prepped, rules have been studied through and through. There is just one thing left, for me to do... I must conquer the next 30 days, controlling what I eat while observing how I feel. Here's to a stronger, healthier me, fueling my body with food; both, whole and real!!!