Day 13 – Thinking Clearer :-)

Hey guys.  This post is going to be short and sweet.  It’s late, and I am in desperate need of some zzz’s. 

Breakfast – Sweet Potato & Apple Hash with Egg.  My new specialty.  🙂

Lunch – Leftover Sirloin Dijon

Dinner – Leftover Sweet Potato Chicken Jalapeno Soup

It is nice to have leftover days spread throughout the challenge to get a little break from all the cooking and dishes.  I don’t think we’ve run the dishwasher so much before.  🙂  I noticed this morning that my brain fog type symptoms were a little better today.  I could think clearer!  Amazing!  I must still be detoxing though, because I got very tired and had a bad headache this afternoon, which resulted in taking a two-hour nap this evening.  I am proud of myself for listening to my body and what it needs.  Before, I would push through and try to continue to do everything on my to-do list; but today, I surrendered and let my body rest.  Progress!

Day 12 – Let’s talk about stress…

Day 12 is here!  My newsletter this morning from Whole30 had some articles about stress addicts, which really hit home for me.  Check them out here:

Stress Addicts Anonymous (Part 1)

Stress Addicts Anonymous (Part 2)

I hate to admit it, but am guilty of this.  I’m a perfectionist.  I multitask.  I put so much on my to-do list that it is impossible to get everything done in one day.  It makes me wonder, why am I doing this to myself…and how do I stop?!  I think a lot of this is how our culture works.  It is almost a status symbol to tell people how “busy” you are.  What if everything didn’t have to be done right away, or today?  What if things did not have to be perfect; heck, nobody’s perfect.  I need to learn to take things a little at a time and not worry about the whole picture and get overwhelmed before I even begin.  It is a work-in-progress, but these articles really hit home for me and have inspired me to take a closer look at what I am doing and make time for important things in my life like meditation, rest, quiet, and reading.  It can’t hurt right?

Wow, this is so much more than a diet.  It is a deep look into your overall health – food, sleep, stress management, exercise, etc. 

Breakfast – I made my famous Sweet Potato, Apple, and Egg Scramble.  I have to admit, I have yet to get sick of this dish.  It is quick and easy and everything complements one another well.  I shredded the sweet potato and apple last night so that everything was ready to go this morning for me.  Put some Ghee in the skillet and cooked the sweet potato and apple up and placed that in a bowl.  Then I cooked 2 local and free-range eggs up and placed that on top of my potatoes and apples.  Added some cinnamon and shredded coconut flakes and voila!  Breakfast is served!  Before my Whole30, my breakfast was almost always a green smoothie with protein powder.  It is kind of nice to have a hot breakfast every morning, especially now that the weather is cooling down.  🙂

Lunch – Leftover Sweet Potato Chicken Jalapeno Soup!

Dinner – Sirloin Dijon

This is a new recipe for me that I haven’t tried yet from “Everyday Paleo” by Sarah Fragoso.  I had lots of kale to eat and thought this would be a great way to get my leafy greens in while eating some meat!  🙂  You can find the recipe here: http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/329290/sirloin-dijon-everydaypaleo-book

I didn’t have chicken stock, so I substituted that for homemade beef bone broth.  It turned out yummy!

Day 11 – Going Strong

I have read that you are most likely to quit your Whole30 program on Day 10 or 11 because the newness has worn off.  You’ve made it through most of the yucky detox symptoms, yet haven’t experienced the “magic” yet.  You’re still struggling to establish a routine – it is true that I have cooked eggs and veggie hash many different ways.  🙂  You suddenly become aware of the foods you are choosing not to eat.  The crankiness and impatience tempt you to eat foods that are not Whole30 compliant.  This is when you experience the psychological hold that food habits have on you.  The newsletter recommends redefining your idea of reward.  How are you really feeling?  Anxious, worried, or afraid of failure?  Food will not fill that void.  Mark, my wonderful husband, and I thought this quote was so funny and true, “Do not reward yourself with food; you are not a dog!”  I decided to reward myself for making it past the first week by purchasing a few songs from iTunes this past weekend.  I also want to buy a fun t-shirt at the end of this challenge.  Maybe a Whole9 shirt or something fun that says “Eat Your Veggies.”  It’s my prize at the end of the challenge.  Right now, the only cravings I have been experiencing are for dark chocolate or Kind Bars (i.e. sugar).  I read somewhere that your body craves what is bad for it, and I know with my previous yeast issues that sugar is not my friend.  I honestly try to distract myself when the cravings kick in, or drink some Whole30 approved herbal tea with a spoonful of coconut milk.  I have also noticed if I eat enough healthy fats, that helps to keep my cravings in check.  It’s a journey, and you must be a detective and figure out what works best for your body; after all, no one knows your body better than you!

Breakfast – 2 Egg Muffins (finished them off) and Sweet Potato Hash with Fresh Pear Slices.  Yum!  I must say, when I was eating all the processed sugar stuff, I took the taste of fresh fruit for granted.  Now I actually savor it and appreciate it so much more…progress!

Lunch – Leftover Chicken Salad.  I finished if off and am a little sad about it.  That stuff is delicious!  I will definitely have to make that again!  It’s funny, but eating that made me feel like a regular person, because I didn’t feel deprived at all.  It was like I was sitting at the Deli enjoying some chicken salad.  One of the things I have noticed is that sometimes I do feel a little isolated eating this way.  Let’s face it: no one else in my family is doing this with me.  That is when I have to remember I am on a different health journey than they are.  I haven’t even gone to a restaurant yet.  We have a meal planned with some friends on Saturday night, and that will be my test on ordering correctly while out to eat.  🙂

Dinner – Chicken Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup (I think that was the name of it).  My friend, Kim, and I made this on Saturday.  I can’t remember which cookbook it came from, but it is very good.  Perfect for the cold, windy, and rainy day we are having here in Texas.  I do love soup in the winter time (even in the summer time too).

By the time I got home, I was really hungry, so I ate half the bowl of soup before I remembered to take a photo.  🙂

I also ate some of these…

It was my first time trying them and they are delicious and whole30 compliant.  I have been trying to eat more seaweed for my thyroid, and these are a tasty treat!  Sorry that the photo is sideways.  It shows up normal in iPhoto and does this on the blog.  Strange.

I am also making some bone broth tonight.  I am using the recipe from “Practical Paleo.”  It is very easy to make and so great for healing your gut.  I highly recommend it!

Day 10 – Made it to the double digits!

Day 10 is here, which means 20 more days.  I’m 1/3 of the way through the whole30!  So far, I’ve noticed that I am still very tired.  I have been going to bed early and taking a little nap during the day if possible.  Still having some cramps, which I think are due to the detox.  Today, I noticed more sugar cravings, especially for dark chocolate.  I am avoiding Pintrest at the moment to prevent seeing dessert recipes.  I have also been hiding dessert pictures on my Facebook feed.  This journey is challenging.  🙂

Breakfast – Leftover Egg Muffins and Sweet Potato Hash

Lunch – Paleo Chicken Salad with Spinach

Dinner – Leftover Zucchini Salad…I finally finished it off!

Will probably go to bed early tonight again.  Even with that nap this afternoon, I still feel tired.  One positive benefit I have noticed since starting the whole30 is that I now fall asleep fast and sleep sounder!  That’s a nice bonus! 

I am currently reading Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival by T. S. Wiley and Bent Formby (it was recommended on the whole30 daily newsletter) and realizing how important sleep is to our overall health.  I find it fascinating that they link lack of sleep to sugar cravings, diabetes, cancer, and many other health issues.  A great book you should check out if you are interested on the subject.  I was pleasantly surprised it was available at my local library.  Upon its recommendations, I am striving for 9.5 hours of sleep each night, which means I have to give up the temptation of the television and go to bed earlier to get those extra ZZZ’s in. 

Day 9 – Falling Back

Happy Sunday!  Did you remember to turn your clocks back?  Gotta love that extra hour of sleep!

It’s so nice to have food on hand and ready to go for a few days!  Thanks Kim! 

Today I started my cycle, having some intense cramps and PMS, but hoping that is the detoxing talking and the next time won’t be like this.

Breakfast – Egg Muffins with some Sweet Potato Hash.  We used a recipe similar to this one: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/paleo-omelet-muffins/  You can pretty much add any veggies you would like.  It’s a quick and yummy idea for breakfast, since you can make several at once and eat them throughout the week.

I remembered to take a photo after muffin #1 was devoured.  🙂

Lunch – Paleo Chicken Salad on Spinach.  This is fabulous, even my husband loved it!  The recipe is from “Paleo Comfort Foods” by Julie and Charles Mayfield and I highly recommend it!

Dinner – Leftover Zucchini Lasagna.  Only one serving left.  🙂

I think the time change, or the detox is getting to me.  I personally am not a fan of it becoming pitch dark outside before 7pm…makes me sleepy.  Definitely going to bed early tonight.  Sleep is important!

Day 8 – One Week in the Bag!

I went to bed early last night and slept in this morning.  I’m trying to get as much sleep as possible right now.  An interesting side-effect that I have noticed since starting the Whole30 is that my cycles are off.  Usually my cycles are 28 days; however, I am on day 31 and still nothing.  I have been experiencing more PMS/cramping symptoms lately, which is probably part of the detox.  My Whole30 Yoda reminded me that your cycle changes with stress, and this new way of eating is stressful for the body.  It will take time. 

I am very tempted to hop on the scale, just to see where I am, but I’ve resisted it.  This is very challenging for me because gaining weight while eating healthy was one of the triggers that made me go to the doctor, and I found out I had cancer (a softball-sized desmoid tumor in my abdominal wall).  Since then, I weigh myself daily to monitor that, and I am now realizing how psychological this all is.  I am glad I have managed to stay away from the scale and will continue to do so.  It’s challenging, but I know it will be worth it.  🙂

Breakfast – I shredded up a sweet potato and green apple in the food processor.  I cooked up two eggs with Ghee in the skillet and then added the sweet potato and apple.  I topped it off with cinnamon and shredded coconut flakes.  Breakfast is the hardest meal for me to plan.  I feel like I’ve been doing the same thing (or similar variations) for the past week.  I am planning to look at the cookbook this afternoon and plan some new ideas for this coming week.  Maybe it’s challenging for me because lots of the cookbooks I have flipped through offer Sex With Your Pants On (SWYPO) breakfast recipes (i.e. breads, muffins, etc).  Read more about that here: http://www.whole9life.com/2011/10/sex-with-your-pants-on/

 

Lunch – Leftover Zucchini Lasagna and Mocha Steak

Dinner – Mocha Steak, Cabbage Slaw, and Chicken Salad on Spinach

The chicken salad was amazing! 

Today, I got together with an wonderful friend to talk paleo, grocery shop, and prepare yummy and healthy food for the week to come.  I highly recommend this!  If you want to get healthy and make some changes, see if you can find a wing-man or wing-woman to support you and do it together.  It makes all the difference and is a lot of fun!  I learned about paleo mayonnaise, which is delicious and opens up a world of options…definitely a game changer!

Day 7 – The Day of Rest!

I can’t believe it is already Day 7!  Today, I am SO very tired (physically and mentally).  I ended up taking a 2-hour nap and still feel exhausted.  Will definitely be going to bed early tonight.  I am wiped out.  Was glad to read in the newsletter that this is normal as the body is adjusting. 

Breakfast – Sweet potato, apple, and egg hash topped with coconut flakes and cinnamon

I peeled and diced a sweet potato and cooked it in the skillet with some Ghee.  I added diced apple and cooked until both the apples and sweet potatoes were soft.  I removed the apple and potatoes and placed them in a bowl.  I then fried two eggs up with Ghee and added them to the potatoes and apples.  Lastly, I sprinkled with cinnamon and coconut flakes. 

Lunch – Zucchini Lasagna Leftovers.  I noticed, while eating lunch, that my TMJ is a little sore, maybe from the coconut flakes (I noticed they take me some time to chew).  Might shred the coconut flakes to make them easier to chew.  Interesting side-effect I am noticing in my body, which probably contributed to the severe headache I had today.

Dinner – Mocha Steak Leftovers and Cabbage Slaw

I meant to mention that my husband tried a mocha steak yesterday and really liked it.  🙂  Yay!  Always makes me feel good when I can find a healthy recipe we both can enjoy.  Again, so grateful to have lots of leftovers to tide me over right now.  This challenge is not for the feint of heart.  The profound effect it is having on my body is very enlightening to me.  Wow!

Day 6 – Happy Halloween AKA I am not going to let a little piece of candy that is not even that good ruin this for me!

Day 6 is here!  Almost one week down!  Feeling alright today.  I have a bit of a headache and feeling sleepy.  Haven’t really had many cravings today, but it is Halloween.  We shall see how it goes handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters. 

Breakfast – Leftover Pork Veggie Hash (added diced pear and coconut flakes for variation and healthy fat)

Lunch – Leftover Zucchini Lasagna with coconut flakes afterwards.  I cannot underestimate how important it is for me to get enough fat in my diet.  I don’t feel well without it.

I had to share that.  It cracked me up, plus it is Halloween!  If you need a little motivation to stay away from the candy, check out this great article from Whole9 – http://www.whole9life.com/2013/10/halloween-candy-special/

Dinner – Leftover Mocha Steak and Cabbage Slaw

I have to admit.  It was nice to have a day off from all the cooking and dishes!  Plus more time to enjoy the trick-or-treaters!  I love seeing all the costumes.  Happy Halloween, everyone! 

Day 5 – More improvement!

I was able to sleep soundly and get out of bed without a problem when my alarm went off this morning – huge progress compared to the last few days.  The brain fog/flu-ish symptoms are minimal today.  I have to admit, I did get a little tired again about an 1 1/2 after I got up, but this is better than before (maybe a nap is in my future).  Oh, and I didn’t have any crazy food dreams last night.  🙂

Here is another great benefit that I am experiencing, though most people don’t like to talk about; but I am having regular BMs (around the same time each day) and feel like I am getting rid of more now.  This is one of the ways the body eliminates toxins, so I think this is a great benefit from the Whole30.  Yay for fiber!  Eat Your Veggies!

Breakfast – Leftover Pork & Veggie Hash (yay for leftovers!)

Lunch – Zucchini Lasagna Leftovers.  I ended up putting it on a plate for serving, which made it much easier to cut up and eat.  I also ended the meal by eating some coconut flakes (thanks Kim) to make sure I get my healthy fats in!  Seriously, if I don’t eat enough fat, I can tell, and not in a good way.

I actually had some energy to take a 30-minute walk this afternoon (which is a big deal for me).  I am recovering from major surgery and severe adrenal fatigue, so these moments when I feel like being active are precious to me.  I got a little tired halfway through, but made it.  I started to realize that I was getting hungry again way before dinner time and remember that since I exercised (and walking is big exercise for me right now) that I needed a snack.  I had organic celery with a little raw almond butter and felt much better afterwards. 

Dinner – Mocha Steak (Dallas & Melissa’s Recipe) from “It Starts With Food” and Kids Love Cabbage Slaw from “Everyday Paleo”

Okay, I got over halfway done with my meal and forgot to take a pic.  I was that hungry.  🙂

You can find the mocha steak recipe here: http://www.naturallyleah.com/food/whole-30-week-one-recipes/

Cabbage Slaw is here: http://www.farrcleanerlife.com/2012/12/everyday-paleos-kids-love-cabbage-slaw.html

I left out the coffee from the mocha steak due to my adrenal fatigue.  I stopped all caffeine for over 6 months now to not artificially stimulate my adrenals.  It was a decision I made with the help of my nutritionist, Jessica Drummond, and I will follow it until my adrenals are in a healthy place again. 

Both turned out to be really good!  I am making these again! 

PS: After several days of soaking the crockpot, the darn burnt pieces will not come off!  I have even tried a pumice rock with no luck!  So I did some research and found it was recommended to apply a large amount of baking soda, a little soap, and water to cover the burned area, and place in the crockpot to heat for 2-4 hours.  Verdict: It works!  Eureka! 

Day 4 – A Little Better!

Still having trouble getting up this morning and feeling a little flu-ish, but better than I was last night.  Yikes, that was bad.  The low carb-flu is real people! 

Interestingly enough, last night I dreamed about eating dessert.  I specifically remember sitting at a table with many desserts: doughnuts, cookies, chocolate cake, etc.  Then I dreamed about McDonald’s food.  This is crazy!  I haven’t had McDonald’s in probably 2 years or more.  The last time I had a doughnut was probably over a year ago as well.  Where is this coming from?  I was happy to see in the Whole30 newsletter that this is normal for day 4.  Man, it is amazing to me how much food affects your thoughts and behaviors (and I was gluten/dairy-free for 6 months before doing this!).  I have never dreamed about stuff like this on any of my previous cleanses.  Very interesting and strange.

My mom was a little freaked out when I told her about my flu-like symptoms.  She thinks that if I am not feeling better soon I should stop and go back to my old way of eating.  I do admit, I miss my green smoothies.  I told her that this is all normal and part of the detox, and it should get better after the first week.

Breakfast – Ground Pork and Veggie Hash

I cooked some plain ground pork that I bought from a local organic farmer.  I added the shredded zucchini and sweet potatoes, as well as the diced green apple I had leftover.  I also put in some coconut butter and topped with cinnamon.  This made about three meals, so I will have leftovers for a few days.  It was good.  I have found that it is hard for me to get in enough calories with this style of eating.  I have found that if I do not eat enough fat, I will get hungry again 1-2 hours after eating.  It was hard for me to finish off my bowl of breakfast, but I did.

 

Lunch – Leftover Pumpkin Soup.  It’s all gone now.  Will have to brainstorm some lunch ideas for tomorrow.  Maybe a salmon salad?

Dinner – Zucchini Lasagna

I have been wanting to swap pasta for zucchini and use my mandolin slicer, so this was a good way to do both.  I sliced up 4 zucchini this morning as well as cleaned and cut my broccoli that I did not have energy for yesterday.  I have decided to take advantage of my energy while I have it.  I got this recipe from the cookbook Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso.  It is called Hasta La Vista Pasta Lasagna.  Here is a link to the recipe: http://www.drkehres.com/2011/08/recipe-hasta-la-vista-pasta-lasagna.html

It turned out alright.  I added fresh mushrooms (because I love them so!) as well as chopped a lot of fresh spinach up and threw that in (I need my leafy greens).  I think the recommended 5-6 Zucchini’s is too much.  I would probably only recommend 3 or 4 at the most.  It was very messy and hard to eat the long zucchini pieces.  I had to cut it up into smaller pieces.  I think next time I will shred the zucchini and make it into a casserole like dish.  Live and learn!

I have to admit, I am getting tired of all the cooking and dishes, but that comes with the territory.  I think it was challenging for me to prepare dinner today in between appointments.  I had to prep part in the morning, part in the afternoon, and bake it when I got home. 

I did make a grocery store run and it was kind of cool to look in my cart and see only veggies and dried fruit that I found that did not have added sugar (wow, you really pay more to make sure the legal crack is not hanging out with your dried cranberries).  It is a good feeling to know that day 4 is in the bag.  I am worn out.  Going to take a shower and go to bed.