W30 D8 Why I'm So Motivated To Do This For Life

I still have itchy bumps all over my back, arms and legs. But if I remember correctly they take awhile to go away. I do think I might itch a bit less but I could be imagining it. I got a headache at work when I used the glass cleaner to clean the windows. I remember from before that the more my body heals, the more sensitive I become to chemicals. I had constant energy at work and once I got home. I was able to grocery shop, make dinner, play with kids, and not have to sit down and rest. That felt really nice. I've been staying up later watching Once Upon A Time and no needing as much sleep. Experienced loss of appetite today. That was  new.

Why this "diet" feels different than others? I'm no stranger to elimination diets. I've tried repeatedly to stick to "diets" or "lifestyle changes". Once I am uncomfortable enough (itchy, bloated, headachy, gasy...) it is easy to eliminate the foods that cause the discomfort. I've done it time and time again. Once I heal enough I forget how uncomfortable I used to be, I get tired of eating restrictively, I miss quick meals, and I go back to my old ways. NOT. THIS. TIME.

I'm well prepared. I have all 4 Whole30 books and am reading them all. I feel so inspired because for the first time I'm not getting tired with the variety of food I can eat. The recipes are so vast and different that I won't get bored with it like usual. If I ever want to go back to eating my old way, I hope I remember how positive and motivated I feel right now and I hope that can be my strength to get through the time I want to "cheat".

2002 was when food started really affecting me. My symptoms were many and drastic. Passing out, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, mood swings, itchy bumps... Now I no longer have mood swings because I take good meds. I no longer have abdominal pain or bowel issues because I've healed my gut enough. However, headaches are a new symptom I now have more frequent.

Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg. I should have ate more because I felt shaky and nauseous from not eating. I had to force myself to eat that egg. I really didn't feel like eating.
Lunch: Leftover lime chili pork roast soup, cole slaw. I didn't finish my lunch. I had to force myself to eat. Headachy, shaky, nauseous from not eating enough.
Dinner: Salmon with avocado salsa SOOO GOOD!! Dinner was light but I was not hungry afterwards.
Late Snack: Frittata (eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, onions) I sampled it because I made it for the first time. This will be my breakfast. YUMMY!

What I love most about Whole 30:
1. I'm eating wholesome real food. No supplements, shakes, etc to buy.
2. I feel supported because tons of people are doing January Whole30 right now, including some of my closest friends. I always felt alone when I did GAPS because not many had heard of it. It is so nice to not feel isolated or different.
3. I feel in control of my food choices. I'm no longer impulse eating.

W30 D6&7 Clean All The Things While Shedding

Day 6

I woke up feeling absolutely amazing with energy! I wanted to organize and clean everything! This is very common for Day 6.  I went to 261 Fearless for an easy run/ exercises. It felt SO GOOD to exercise after not being able to do much since umbilical hernia repair surgery 6 weeks ago. I dusted all the wood furniture upstairs with wood polish. Things hadn't been dusted in 10 months. I organized all my cookbooks I've made in notebooks and went through all recipes and pitched things I know I'd never make again.

Breakfast was eggs, lunch and dinner were homemade cole slaw and tuna. I made a smoothie after 261 Fearless. I was feeling a bit nauseous and after eating the smoothie I felt perfect again. I've learned that I need carbs right after a workout. Smoothie: 1/2 c. almond milk, 1 frozen banana, spoonful of almond butter. I also ate a chia banana strawberry squeeze from Aldi after working out and felt back to normal. I want to stock up on those since Aldi doesn't always carry them and they work great for when I need carbs.

 I took mom's KFC recipe and revised it so I could eat it. It is SO GOOD! Originally the recipe called for 1/3 cup sugar. Yikes! I put a little unsweetened apple sauce and raisins in it for sweetness.

I felt like I was running on hyper focus. I forced myself to stop cleaning just to go to bed. I remember feeling this way when I did GAPS also.

Day 7

I woke up feeling normal, no crazy energy. But I still feel like organizing and cleaning everything. I finished organizing cookbooks, made meatballs from https://onceamonthmeals.com/recipes/instant-pot-paleo-meatballs/.
They happen to be Paleo/W30 AND IP!! Score! Kevin and I LOVED them! Definitely a keep of a recipe. It is in my new W30 notebook cookbook that I made. I also meal planned for the week. I felt a tiny big headachy and sick until I realized I hadn't eaten or drank anything yet. Once I ate protein and drank water I felt great again. I'm used to it. My body is like that every day of my life. Eat a little protein and I feel great!

My hair is falling out more than usual today. It's detox. I remember this from GAPS and also after giving birth to my kids. I forgot how annoying it is. I keep pulling hair off my shirt. LOL Oh well, it will pass.

This week I plan on  making Salmon with Avocado Salad, Shepard's Pie, broth with that huge bag of bones that have been in my freezer for over a year, Butternut Squash Soup, Green Chili Turkey Burgers...

Week 2 here I go....

W30 D5

I woke up feeling awake and amazing!! Energy continued all day. No headaches, nausea, etc...
Breakfast: Sauteed onions, mushrooms, in eggs and salsa. It's becoming my me favorite breakfast.
Lunch: I took my IP bone broth from yesterday and added sauteed onions, celery, carrots, and mushrooms with leftover PFC lime chili pork roast. A little sea salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, and chives perfected it.
I craved crackers which is the first craving I've had since starting W30. I'm surprised I haven't craved more because when I attempted the first time I craved sugar like crazy.
Dinner: Same as lunch but with baby potatoes and avocado. The potatoes totally satisfied my cracker craving.

My W30 goals: 1. Itch less. I remember being itch-free after 3 months of GAPS. 2. No bloating. My bloating after meals had gotten so bad. 3. Energy. Sometimes I feel tired and I'd like to just have stable energy all day. 4. Weight loss. Inches lost. (Starting: 169.5 lbs, 36 inches) 5. Motivation to begin training for the Chicago Marathon. 6. No more daily/weekly headaches. So far I've been headache free since Day 3.

I know it's only D5 but I already want to do this longer than 30 days. We'll see. I'm thinking of making a "fruit cake" for my birthday! Having all the Whole 30 books makes it so much easier. The recipes are absolutely amazing. Tastier than GAPS meals. LOL 

W30 D4

Today, W30 says you will be grouchy. I am not. I had mild nausea this morning followed by fatigue so I took an afternoon nap. Before W30, I was nauseous, headachy, and itchy every day from food. That all still continues. Especially itchy on my back, legs, and arms. I remember it taking awhile on GAPS before the itching went away.

I went to Kroger today and bought W30 compliantApplegate Hot Dogs and Aidell's Apple n Chicken Sausage. Yum! The whole family ate them up so fast. My goal is to mostly cook but I'm happy to know there is PFC and convenient W30 foods if needed so I don't stray. I bought a ton of veggies at Aldi to cook up tomorrow!

Breakfast: Eggs and salsa
Lunch: Shrimp, cashews, spinach, lemon & garlic Tessemae's Dressing, apple, banana.
Dinner: Aidell's Apple Chicken Sausage

W30 D3

Today was so much better. No headaches or nausea. A little tired in the morning but lots of pep in the afternoon. I even cleaned my house!
I added salsa to my eggs at breakfast. So tasty! Lunch was lime chili pork roast from PFC with avocado and picante, half an apple, and carrots. Dinner was a baked potato with PFC Buffalo Ranch Meatballs.

It probably also helped that I worked 4 hours today so I was thinking about other things, not just Whole 30. So far I've had no cravings which is surprising but I'll take it! It's so much easier to stay the course without sugar cravings.

Whole 30 Day 2 The Hangover

Day 2 is labeled The Hangover. It's no joke. Major nausea and headaches all day. I typically feel nauseous and headachy from food but today was much worse.

Breakfast: Slept in.
Lunch: 2 cans tuna, primal kitchen mayo (tasty!), Avocado
Dinner: PFC Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings (Yum!)
Snack: Banana, Chia Strawberry Banana from Aldi

I definitely want to make the lemon pepper seasoning again!

Whole 30 Day 1 1/2/17

I learned about Whole 30 last year and now own the books: Whole 30, Whole 30 Cookbook, and Food Freedom Forever! Whole 30 is like strict Paleo. Meats, veggies, fruit, nuts. No soy, legumes, dairy, grains, sugar (even honey). I'm starting this way of eating for 30 days with friends. I've done elimination diets in the past. I always feel better when I eliminate sugar. Cheers to the next 30 days!

Day 1: Excitement!
Breakfast: 3 eggs, orange

Lunch: Shrimp, Spinach, Tessemae's Balsamic Dressing, Cashews

Dinner: Lime Chili Pork Roast, Cholula, Sugar-free Salsa (from Kroger), Banana, Green Beans, Carrots

Update: Today felt easy. I had no cravings at bedtime which surprised me.