Now that I've completed my first whole30, the time has come to be honest with myself about what I've learned and work on life after whole30. I waited a few weeks between ending the program and blogging about it to allow time for life to get back to "normal". The authors of Whole30 call this "riding your own bike" and I feel like that's exactly what I'm learning to do. I am no longer able to make excuses for not eating that brownie or not drinking that beer- I have to figure out when I want to splurge and when I want to simply pass on foods that aren't good for my body.
Here are my top ten takeaways from completing my first Whole30:
#10: Where your calories come from matters. I'll admit I used to believe that as long as you consumed less calories than what you were burning each day, you didn't have to worry about gaining weight. Now, I realize that where these calories come from makes a huge difference in what they do for your body. Eating 1000 calories worth of cookies, breads, and chips is not the same as eating 1000 calories worth of protein, carbs, and good fats that come from meat, vegetables, and nuts.
#9: If you can easily make it yourself at home, don't bother buying it. Sometimes the convenience of store-bought condiments and food is worth the extra price. Other times, it's just as simple (and more affordable) to make homemade versions where you can control the ingredients. You'll have to decide for yourself, but here are a few of the foods I've started making on my own since doing the Whole30. Still on my list to try: ghee (clarified butter), and almond butter. I just purchased my first bag of peanut butter powder and it made delicious peanut butter!
Taco Seasoning
Ranch Seasoning (dry)
Ranch Dressing
Mayonnaise
Whole Wheat Bread
Ketchup
Larabars (my favorite!)
#8. Eating healthy is expensive. I'm sorry, but I can see why Americans eat so much processed food- the cost of healthy, fresh vegetables, meats, and fruits are way more expensive than boxed "food". I plan on posting a few helpful hints I have for eating healthy on a budget...stay tuned.
#7. I have more willpower than I ever gave myself credit for. Becoming educated on the food I was consuming was an added bonus for me. I didn't expect to become so passionate about ingredients and good food. Understanding what goes into some of those junk foods only motivated me NOT to eat them, which made staying 100% compliant that much easier. Do your homework (and that's not just the teacher in me talking).
#6. Not all sugars are created equal. So this one I already knew (hence the reason I wanted to do the whole30 in the first place), but I wasn't aware of just how scary this can be. After reading several books on this topic, along with watching a documentary or two, I learned a little history lesson about sugar. In a nutshell, we are naturally attracted to sweet foods. In nature, as hunters and gatherers, we were taught that if we found food that was bitter it may be dangerous (toxic), where as if it was sweet it was probably okay to consume. The natural sweeteners found in nature (fruits, etc.) weren't the problem. The issue came when we started consuming things like soda and candy bars, training the human brain to want more and more of the processed sugars that are several times more sweet than naturally occurring sugar found in nature. It's no surprise to me that a study found sugar to be as addictive as cocaine.
#5. I don't have to drink to have fun. It's true. There were at least five occasions during my thirty days where I was with friends, family, and/or co-workers and opted for lemon water instead of alcohol. And I still had a great time. Does that mean I'll never again throw some beers back on a Friday night? Ha, no. But if I don't feel like drinking alcohol, I can choose something else and it doesn't bother me a bit. How's that for growing up and not giving in to peer pressure? :)
#4. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This one is something I've preached to my kiddos, but wasn't something I really thought mattered when it came to my own meals. Before starting the Whole30, I would grab half of a bagel or a piece of toast to eat with my coffee as I drove to work each morning. My energy levels peaked as my body was fueled with these carbs, but soon dipped when I wasn't getting those quick spikes. Eating a breakfast with plenty of protein (sausage and eggs) set the tone for my day and kept me full until lunch.
#3. When I make a commitment, I stick to it. This program had a bit of "tough love" built into it, and I think it was perfect (at least for me). I needed someone to remind me that I'm in control of my food choices. There are always going to be birthday parties, weekend getaways, holidays, and nights out with friends. I made it through three snow days, two parent-teacher conference nights, numerous outings, a Superbowl party, and two game nights with friends- all with no slips, cheats, or "special occasions". And it was all worth it.
#2. If you make eating good food a priority, you can afford it. So now that I've mentioned #8 from above (eating healthy is expensive), I also have to admit that it was still very doable (for my family). Instead of spending money on eating out or buying alcohol during those thirty days, I increased my grocery bill budget and it was almost a wash. For anyone who drinks a 20 oz. bottle of pop or eats fast food for lunch each day, you might actually save money while completing your whole30. Think about it: the average cost of a drive-through meal at McDonald's (or enter favorite fast food chain here) is right around $5-$7. By bringing a salad to work each day (even with chicken breast, berries, dressing, and vegetables added), I still paid only about $1-$2 per meal. I'm saving right around $20-$30 per week! Take a look at your budget and see where you might be able to cut back. Your wallet will thank you.
#1. Weight is not the only indicator of good health. I may have already mentioned this in a previous post, but I want to shout it from the rooftops. Just because my BMI is in the normal range, does not make me healthy. A number on a scale cannot accurately reflect everything going on inside your body. My mood, energy, and happiness were all affected by what I was eating. If you want to be healthy, you have to start by eating good food.
So there you have it- my top ten takeaways from completing my first whole30. Would you believe that I counted over 40 nonscale victories when I was done! Yes, I lost a dress size and 6 pounds that I've kept off, but the other benefits far outweighed my weight and measurement numbers. If you haven't done the Whole30 yet, what are you waiting for?
God's Blessings,
A Good Food Fanatic
Showing posts with label final. Show all posts
Showing posts with label final. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Final Week: Whole30
If you're just joining me, I've already posted my Week #1, Week #2, and Week #3 daily journals while completing my first Whole30. I'm starting to reap some of the benefits, and the end is so close I can taste it! (Is that chocolate I taste? haha)
DAY #22:
I'm kind of tired today, maybe because I only had a little coffee with my breakfast this morning. I made egg, sausage, and pepper "muffins" (see photo with recipe in my previous post) last night so I could easily reheat them in the microwave each morning. It makes getting ready in the morning easier, but I do find it doesn't keep me quite as full as sausage & eggs does. You'll need to eat at least 2-3 or add a piece of fruit or something with it to hold you over until lunch. As I mentioned in a previous post, I also started cooking my sausages at the beginning of the week so they are easy to reheat in the morning as well. I'm trying to decide what breakfast after the Whole30 will be like. That change alone has been one of my favorite benefits of the program. I no longer grab a quick muffin or piece of toast as I'm running out the door; instead, I sit down with my breakfast and cup of coffee and start my day off right! (It helps that I have increased energy levels in the morning so getting out of bed is easy!).
Tonight's supper was the best recipe thus far. I will add this to my regular rotation of meals for sure! I made Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles. The sauce takes some time to prepare, so I made that last night when I had more time to let it simmer and then just reheated it on my stovetop while my zucchini noodles (zoodles) were steaming. The garlicky, nutty flavor in the sauce was the perfect addition to the shrimp and zoodles. Honestly, if you don't make any other Whole30 recipe, at least try this one. You won't be disappointed.
DAY #23:
I had a headache for most of the morning today, but it went away as I was eating my lunch so I'm not sure what that was about. Supper tonight was Cilantro Lime Chicken, mashed cauliflower, and asparagus with olive oil, garlic powder and salt/pepper. My recipe for the chicken was one I had made prior to Whole30, and didn't need much for modifications. I make mine with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and it can be made in the crockpot, which I love! This is one of my go-to meals for freezing. I buy enough ingredients for several meals and then just pour them into gallon ziplock bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, when I'm ready to make them again, I just throw it all into the crockpot on low while I'm at work. Ta da! Supper in no time at all!
I've been enjoying almonds for snacks and fruit when I want something sweet. I never thought I'd be able to truly appreciate the natural sweetness in fruit! A cup of hot tea at night helps me to unwind and keeps me from wanting to graze after supper (the hardest time for most people is between supper and bedtime).
DAY #24:
I woke up with some digestive issues again. Hopefully it's just my body's way of processing food differently. I ate way too much for supper- leftover roasted chicken, sweet potato, grapes, and a hard-boiled egg, and I was way too full when finished. I do eat very quickly and I'm trying to work on chewing my food slowly and savoring every bite. I still have a lot of energy and feel good. Clear mind = happy me.
DAY #25:
Today was parent-teacher conference day so 12 1/2 hours was spent at work. They had chocolate chip cookies available, and many teachers ordered in tacos for supper. I brought leftovers and survived without the cookies. I am starting to surprise myself with the willpower I've found! However, after the whole30 I won't be able to blame the program for why I can't eat certain foods. I better work on a plan.
DAY #26:
I finally went out after work for drinks and watched my co-workers have some beers while sipping on my lemon water. It actually wasn't too hard, except that I knew I only had four days left so if I hadn't read the book and forums thoroughly and prepared myself for this day, I most likely would've thought "I'm close enough to 30" and given in. I'm so glad I didn't.
We went to a friend's house for game night and there were delicious-looking cupcakes and peanut butter treats. Very tempting. Sparkling water is becoming more and more tasty to me, and I'll bet pop will taste too sweet after my Whole30. I still have slight digestive issues but I feel amazing and I'm so happy!
DAY #27:
I'm ready to be done. I'm tired of having to plan meals so thoroughly and spend so much money on groceries each week. I want to skip right to the reintroduction phase so I can see what foods are my problem foods!
DAY #28:
I'm really starting to enjoy cooking for my family! I was always a baker at heart, but now my time in the kitchen is mostly spent on preparing homemade, great food for my family and that is exciting. I bought another pork shoulder (buying in bulk allows me to spend only about $1.75/lb vs. $2-$3/lb) and ground my own sausage. I found a recipe online for spices to add, and this is what I've been making into sausage patties for breakfast each morning. I make a bunch of patties and then freeze them in ziplock bags. Then, I just pull a bag out on the weekend and put it in the fridge to make throughout the week. This time, I kept some of the pork shoulder and made a rub. I added the rub to the piece of meat and it's sitting in my fridge to throw into the crockpot tomorrow morning so we can have pulled pork for supper. Tonight's supper? Basil Porkchops, roasted vegetables, and diced russet potatoes with herbs similar to a dry ranch seasoning mix.
Today I also felt confident enough to get my back of sweets and non-compliant foods back from my parents' house. I'm spending some quality time deciding what I want to do with my life after whole30.
DAY #29:
I'm almost there! I can feel the benefits of the Whole30- my skin is clear, my energy is high, and my dress pants are starting to hang off my body. Although I didn't go into this program to necessarily lose weight, I do think I lost a few pounds and for sure a dress pants size.
DAY #30:
I made it! I did it! I went 30 days straight with no gluten, soy, dairy, alcohol, or refined sugar. No slips, no cheats, and no special occasions. I will follow up with all of my "takeaways" in my next post. I'm ready for #lifeafterwhole30!
God's Blessings,
A Good Food Fanatic
DAY #22:
I'm kind of tired today, maybe because I only had a little coffee with my breakfast this morning. I made egg, sausage, and pepper "muffins" (see photo with recipe in my previous post) last night so I could easily reheat them in the microwave each morning. It makes getting ready in the morning easier, but I do find it doesn't keep me quite as full as sausage & eggs does. You'll need to eat at least 2-3 or add a piece of fruit or something with it to hold you over until lunch. As I mentioned in a previous post, I also started cooking my sausages at the beginning of the week so they are easy to reheat in the morning as well. I'm trying to decide what breakfast after the Whole30 will be like. That change alone has been one of my favorite benefits of the program. I no longer grab a quick muffin or piece of toast as I'm running out the door; instead, I sit down with my breakfast and cup of coffee and start my day off right! (It helps that I have increased energy levels in the morning so getting out of bed is easy!).
Tonight's supper was the best recipe thus far. I will add this to my regular rotation of meals for sure! I made Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles. The sauce takes some time to prepare, so I made that last night when I had more time to let it simmer and then just reheated it on my stovetop while my zucchini noodles (zoodles) were steaming. The garlicky, nutty flavor in the sauce was the perfect addition to the shrimp and zoodles. Honestly, if you don't make any other Whole30 recipe, at least try this one. You won't be disappointed.
DAY #23:
I had a headache for most of the morning today, but it went away as I was eating my lunch so I'm not sure what that was about. Supper tonight was Cilantro Lime Chicken, mashed cauliflower, and asparagus with olive oil, garlic powder and salt/pepper. My recipe for the chicken was one I had made prior to Whole30, and didn't need much for modifications. I make mine with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and it can be made in the crockpot, which I love! This is one of my go-to meals for freezing. I buy enough ingredients for several meals and then just pour them into gallon ziplock bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, when I'm ready to make them again, I just throw it all into the crockpot on low while I'm at work. Ta da! Supper in no time at all!
I've been enjoying almonds for snacks and fruit when I want something sweet. I never thought I'd be able to truly appreciate the natural sweetness in fruit! A cup of hot tea at night helps me to unwind and keeps me from wanting to graze after supper (the hardest time for most people is between supper and bedtime).
DAY #24:
I woke up with some digestive issues again. Hopefully it's just my body's way of processing food differently. I ate way too much for supper- leftover roasted chicken, sweet potato, grapes, and a hard-boiled egg, and I was way too full when finished. I do eat very quickly and I'm trying to work on chewing my food slowly and savoring every bite. I still have a lot of energy and feel good. Clear mind = happy me.
DAY #25:
Today was parent-teacher conference day so 12 1/2 hours was spent at work. They had chocolate chip cookies available, and many teachers ordered in tacos for supper. I brought leftovers and survived without the cookies. I am starting to surprise myself with the willpower I've found! However, after the whole30 I won't be able to blame the program for why I can't eat certain foods. I better work on a plan.
DAY #26:
I finally went out after work for drinks and watched my co-workers have some beers while sipping on my lemon water. It actually wasn't too hard, except that I knew I only had four days left so if I hadn't read the book and forums thoroughly and prepared myself for this day, I most likely would've thought "I'm close enough to 30" and given in. I'm so glad I didn't.
We went to a friend's house for game night and there were delicious-looking cupcakes and peanut butter treats. Very tempting. Sparkling water is becoming more and more tasty to me, and I'll bet pop will taste too sweet after my Whole30. I still have slight digestive issues but I feel amazing and I'm so happy!
DAY #27:
I'm ready to be done. I'm tired of having to plan meals so thoroughly and spend so much money on groceries each week. I want to skip right to the reintroduction phase so I can see what foods are my problem foods!
DAY #28:
I'm really starting to enjoy cooking for my family! I was always a baker at heart, but now my time in the kitchen is mostly spent on preparing homemade, great food for my family and that is exciting. I bought another pork shoulder (buying in bulk allows me to spend only about $1.75/lb vs. $2-$3/lb) and ground my own sausage. I found a recipe online for spices to add, and this is what I've been making into sausage patties for breakfast each morning. I make a bunch of patties and then freeze them in ziplock bags. Then, I just pull a bag out on the weekend and put it in the fridge to make throughout the week. This time, I kept some of the pork shoulder and made a rub. I added the rub to the piece of meat and it's sitting in my fridge to throw into the crockpot tomorrow morning so we can have pulled pork for supper. Tonight's supper? Basil Porkchops, roasted vegetables, and diced russet potatoes with herbs similar to a dry ranch seasoning mix.
Today I also felt confident enough to get my back of sweets and non-compliant foods back from my parents' house. I'm spending some quality time deciding what I want to do with my life after whole30.
DAY #29:
I'm almost there! I can feel the benefits of the Whole30- my skin is clear, my energy is high, and my dress pants are starting to hang off my body. Although I didn't go into this program to necessarily lose weight, I do think I lost a few pounds and for sure a dress pants size.
DAY #30:
I made it! I did it! I went 30 days straight with no gluten, soy, dairy, alcohol, or refined sugar. No slips, no cheats, and no special occasions. I will follow up with all of my "takeaways" in my next post. I'm ready for #lifeafterwhole30!
God's Blessings,
A Good Food Fanatic
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