Whole30 day 12: #NonScaleVictory

I can't believe this is day 12 for me of my first Whole30. I find sticking to this plan very easy now that I have worked out the kinks. I haven't snacked too much and am able to adhere to the regular 3 meal template. Last night I took my son to a pizza party through our church. I brought my own meal of sweet potato hash, steamed broccoli, and a chicken apple sausage. The pizza still smelled sooooo good! I have an allergy to yeast though and I just tried to focus on how horrible the pain was in my stomach following the last time I ate pizza. Worked like a charm!

When I got home and was getting ready for bed I went to remove my makeup and realized that I didn't even put any on! My skin is so clear and even toned just from changing my diet that I didn't realize I had not even put makeup on. Just another #nonscalevictory !!!

Saturday is my son's 12th birthday and instead of going on his Boy Scout fishing trip he said he would rather spend more time with me. I know it is going to take some extra planning on my part to make sure I have meals or can get meals when we are out doing things. We are going to the lake to do some kayaking and also planning on doing some shopping. I'll figure it out though!

Day 11 recap:

Breakfast:
Deviled eggs
Sweet potato hash
Blueberries

Lunch:
Tuna salad with olive oil mayo and relish on a bed of lettuce and spinich leaves.

Dinner:
referenced above

Wishing you love and sunshine,
Sarah

Whole30 day 11 and feeling stronger

I was down for the last few days because I haven't been walking as much. Where I work they encourage us to get 10,000 steps a day on our Fitbits (roughly 4.5 miles). For the past few days I have been short on my goal each day, but then it dawned on my last night that while my quantity is down my quality is up!! Saturday I got my steps while pushing a lawn mower (something I had not done in over 15 years!) and even yesterday while I didn't do distance, I climbed 10 flights of stairs (w/ a knee that needs replacing I often struggle with the 3 steps into my house). I definitely view my increased activity level as a #nonscalevictory !!!!

I have to admit that I had a huge temptation last night though. I took my son to see a musical at a theater in a nearby town. In the lobby they sell hot cinnamon sugar roasted almonds. I love them! I bought some for my son and when he handed them to me to hold while he went to the restroom, I looked longingly at the bag. I heard a little voice in my head say "just one. no one will know." I didn't though, because while no one else would know if I had one or not, I would know! I would know and I cannot do that to myself. I love that mentally I have been strong enough in my willpower to resist temptations.

Here is my recap of my food yesterday:

Breakfast:
Deviled eggs (3 whole eggs worth)
Sweet potato hash
a handful of blueberries

Lunch:
Steak with cherry bbq sauce
Grilled veggie kabobs
Sweet potato hash
Dinner:
Spaghetti sauce with smoked chorizo sausage, peppers, onions, and broccoli slaw served on zoodles (julianed zucchini)


Wishing you love and sunshine,
Sarah

Whole30 Day 10

Good morning everyone! Day 10 for me. I didn't sleep well last night for the second night in a row. I am sure our crazy weather is to blame and my body just isn't used to sleeping with the warmer temperatures yet. Because it was a rough night, I got off to a slow start and am feeling like I am dragging a bit. I ate a good breakfast and am hoping I can get out of my funk soon. My son also wasn't feeling well this morning so I am hoping we aren't coming down with something. Anyway...I'll keep carrying on and maybe my lunch time walk will help perk me up :-)
Here is my recap of day 9:

Breakfast:
2 proschiutto egg muffins (w/ peppers and onions)

blue berries

Lunch:
Chicken breast with cherry bbq sauce
Roasted cauliflower
Grilled zuchinni

Dinner:
Steak with cherry bbq sauce
Roasted brussel sprouts
Grilled veggie kabobs

My 12 year old requested that I make larger batches of the cherry bbq sauce (Nomnompaleo) because he loves it so much!! I am loving that he is really enjoying this experience! It really makes me feel good as a mom to know that I am teaching him healthy options.

Wishing you love and sunshine,
Sarah

Whole30 Day 9- survived my first weekend and eating out

I am now on day 9 of my first whole30 and it hasn't been without challenges but the rewards outweigh any negatives! My dad normally mows my yard for me since I have had so many knee surgeries (1 on the left,8 on the right) and have arthritis. He is out of town so Saturday since I had less pain (due to reduced inflammation thanks to my diet) and more energy I mowed HIS yard and 2/3 of mine. Then I kept the momentum going and cleaned the house, made dinner for my mom, and some egg muffins for breakfast this week.

Sunday was the big challenge....eating out. You CAN eat out when you are on the Whole30, you just need to do a little research. Go to the restaurant's website ahead of time and look at the menu and the ingredients list. Call and ask questions. Lastly, don't be afraid to ask your server (nicely) for substitutions or changes.

Friday:
Breakfast:
3 deviled eggs (6 halves)
orange

Best dinner date ever!!

Lunch:
Chicken salad

Dinner...I had a date who ran with my suggestion to go shopping together at Whole Foods and cook
dinner together:
pork roast
mango salsa
brussel sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes sauteed in garlic and olive oil

Saturday:

Breakfast:
2 egg fritatta with sauteed peppers, onions, garlic, spinach and coconut milk

Lunch:
3 deviled eggs
sweet potato with cinnimon

Dinner:
baked chicken breast with home made cherry barbeque sauce
balasalmic roased brussel sprouts with bacon
roasted cauliflower with garlic

Sunday:

Breakfast:
3 eggs scrambled
2 slices of bacon
orange

Lunch at Outback Steakhouse:

My Mother's Day meal at Outback Steakhouse

Steamed broccoli (hold the butter)
baked sweet potato (plain)
Steak grilled with salt and pepper only

Dinner:
Spicy coconut shrimp
fried plantanes
grilled zuchinni
pumpkin custard (dessert)

Start of Whole30 day 6...um...er...maybe not

So morning of day 6...or should I say day 3 since I found out that I didn't look close enough at the

nitrate free cruelty free  bacon that was in my sweet potato hash for the first few days and found out that it too had sugar. That is what I get for trying to shop with my son who rushes me in the grocery store. I was so bummed about it that I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Then my dog had an upset tummy in this middle of the night which kept me up for a couple hours during the time of night when I normally get my best sleep. I went to make breakfast of scrambled eggs with green peppers and ham...Boar's head ham is supposed to be compliant, but almost all the varieties at my local store had a sugar or honey glaze. I bought the boiled version since no sugar, and just before I was about to put it in the skillet I looked at the package and noticed that it has MSG in it. sigh....I cried. Maybe I should also mention I have possibly the biggest job interview of my career this afternoon. I'm trying to get out of this funk but

I'm am on the verge of saying "to hell with it!"

Or I was until I called my mother for support. Instead of getting support though, I got comments like "It is too hard and too restrictive." and "I don't think you can do it for 30 day. You should stop now and just try my diet." What?!?!?! My mom has been "dieting" for years and hasn't lost any weight. She eats to few calories and doesn't eat a balance between protein, fat, and good carbs. Newsflash mom...there is a reason you aren't losing weight. Stop subscribing to the archaic idea that you can lose weight alone by just cutting calories!

I am no longer sad. I'm angry and I am going to stick with this and add 3 days on to the end of the 30 to make up for the first 3 I messed up on.

Here is my day 5 recap:

Breakfast:
3 deviled eggs (6 halves)
apple
chai green tea with coconut milk

Lunch:
sweet potato hash (sans bad bacon)
leftover asian beef lettuce wraps

Dinner:
Chicken salad (chicken, olive oil mayo, apples, celery, chives, raisins, chopped pecans, and a touch of vinegar)
fresh spinach leaves

Happy Whole30 Day 5!!!

As you can tell by the title of this post, I am in a good mood this morning. I slept great last night and this morning the sun seems a little brighter and the birds chirping a little less annoying! I'm guessing that means I am officially out of the detoxing slump that everyone goes through during their first few days on the Whole30 program. I struggled last night when I was watching my favorite TV show without my usual bowl of popcorn. I thought about eating an apple or having some nuts but

I used a modified version of the recipe from Nomnompaleo.

ultimately came to the conclusion that I wasn't hungry, just used to the mindless eating! I am so happy I had that realization. Regardless of how much weight I lose, that realization has helped make this process worth it!
I feel like I have a ton of support and resources to make this life change, which makes it all easier. There are a large group of us that all started around the same day that have a running support group going on the Whole30 forum. My 12 year old son is also a very good sport and has actually been enjoying his new breakfast and dinner options. We have also started eating dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV like we normally do on nights we don't eat with his grandparents.

Here is my day 4 recap:

Breakfast:
Sweet potato hash
2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil

Lunch:
Leftover speghetti sauce and zoodles with leftover meatloaf cumbled in.

Dinner:
Asian beef lettuce cups with broccoli slaw

Whole30 Day 3 Recap...bring on the new day!

Good Morning! I am on the morning of Day 4 of my first Whole30 and I have to say that while I was still sluggish this morning waking up, once I started moving I started feeling a lot better. I feel like I am over the fatigue mountain and on my way down. Hopefully by Saturday I will be fully energized! I am really struggling right now with the temptation to step on the scale. For the last two years I have been counting my calories and weighing daily and it helped me lose 40 lbs. It is so hard to break that habit. I hid the tiles on my fitbit that allow me to count calories and talk about the calories I burn, so I guess that is a start!

Best thing I have learned yet is to not fear coconut milk! It goes a long way to cutting the bitterness of coffee or tea without making it sweet.

My 12 year old son loved the zoodles!!

Here is what I ate on day 3:

Breakfast:
Sweet potato hash
2 eggs scrambled
Fresh blueberries

Lunch:
Taco salad (lettuce, roasted corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, avocado, salsa, ground turkey season like taco meat)

Dinner:
Paleo meatballs, spaghetti sauce and zoodles (julianed zucchini noodles)