Whole 30 Take 3

Cake on Day2? Now that's my kind of diet!

I'm on Day 25 of my third Whole 30 (did the others last year.) It's been easier this time around. I haven't missed not having cake on the diet or candy or had any real cravings. Maybe it's because I know what to expect. Maybe it's because I feel so much better. Or maybe it's because I like having my pants fit looser already!

The key to success that I learned during the second time is preparation. The first time I had a pantry and fridge full of things I could eat. I printed out recipes, figured out menus ahead of time. The second time I didn't. It was awful. I made it the thirty days but was so sick of salad and meat I set myself up for failure when it was over which is why it's taken me 8 months to try it again.

This time I wasn't as prepared as the first time, but I did better than the second. To keep me on track when it's over I ordered a sample pack of food from Pre-Made Paleo that I can heat up if I don't have time to cook as well as some Primal Pacs. My biggest problem is when hubby goes out of town (which happens a lot) since he does most of the cooking around here. I'm hoping having some ready-made-food/snacks will keep me on track after Day 30!

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Not Again...

My tummy hurts, too. My nose is congested and the nose bleeds started last night.

But I'm on deadline and this happens every single time, even when I make myself go to bed before midnight each night. Guess it's part of my "writing process." I think I'll see if I can change that part.

I'm also going back on Whole 30 starting tomorrow. Figured Lent would be a good time to do it again!

Are you giving anything up?

Day 26

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I feel like this kitty! My big climb, if you want to call it that, is nearing the end. I'm on Day 26 of Whole 30 and feel awesome. It's been twenty-six days of healthy eating—meat, veggies, fruit and nuts. So what If I haven't had any dairy, grains (not even gluten-free ones), sugar, alcohol and legumes? I've survived a deadline with no chocolate. Revisions, too! If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you know how huge that is for me.

The funny thing is eating healthy hasn't been as tough as I thought it would be. Just writing that makes me shake my head, but face it. Eating healthy wasn't the norm around here. It was all about convenience and what tasted good. Rather what I thought tasted good.

But the Whole 30 program is so strict you can't say you didn't know what you could or couldn't eat. It's hard to fail unless you have zero willpower. As long as I read the labels, I'm fine. I'm much better at that now. It's amazing what they add sugar to these days. It was even in the minced ginger I'd purchased at New Seasons that remains unopened in the pantry.

I've realized how easy it is for food habits to form. Whole 30 stresses real food over convenience food. I was worried about the time preparing meals, but it hasn't been bad at all. The kids have liked all but one of the meals (and that was one someone had posted on their Facebook page when they asked for slow-cooker recipes rather than one the program provided.)

The best part is how good I feel. I really meant what I wrote above...I do feel awesome. My mood, my energy and no pain in my knee or my shoulder. I haven't taken any ibuprofen this entire time. (It's suggested not to take any NSAIDs and use plain old aspirin if need be.) But I haven't used any which is pretty incredible given the last couple of years! I just sucked it up through the headaches the first couple of days. They call it "Carb flu." I call it sugar withdrawal.

At the end of the thirty days, you start reintroducing foods back into your diet one at a time. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I have a feeling dairy might be the big one for me. Does that mean I'll never have ice cream again if that turns out to be the case? Nope. But it means I'll be choosy about when I do eat it and save ice cream for special splurges.

Of course, I have until Friday still to go with the initial program. I can't wait to step on the scale. (You aren't supposed to do that for the 30 days.) People say I've lost weight. I'm curious to see if I have! I definitely don't feel as bloated. (Weight loss isn't a goal for this program. They believe by eating healthier and making better food choices you'll naturally lose the weight.)

If you want a better explanation about what I've been doing these past 26 days, here's Whole 30's 60 second elevator pitch from the Whole9 blog about their nutrition program:

I eat real food – fresh, natural food like meat, vegetables and fruit. I choose foods that are nutrient-dense, with lots of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, over foods that have more calories but less nutrition. And food quality is important – I’m careful about where my meat, seafood and eggs come from, and buy organic local produce as often as possible.

This is not a “diet” – I eat as much as I need to maintain strength, energy, activity levels and a healthy body weight. I aim for well-balanced nutrition, so I eat both animals and a significant amount of plants. I’m not lacking carbohydrates – I just get them from vegetables and fruits instead of bread, cereal or pasta. And my meals are probably higher in fat than you’d imagine, but fat is a healthy source of energy when it comes from high-quality foods like avocado, coconut and grass-fed beef.

Eating like this is ideal for maintaining a healthy metabolism and reducing inflammation within the body. It’s good for body composition, energy levels, sleep quality, mental attitude and quality of life. It helps eliminate sugar cravings and reestablishes a healthy relationship with food. It also works to minimize your risk for a whole host of lifestyle diseases and conditions, like diabetes, heart attack, stroke and autoimmune.

Hope you enjoy your Monday!

It Starts With Food

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If my cats are still hungry, they let me know. I won't be able to get anything done at all if they need more food. Sometimes I know I've fed them the right amount (used a scale) but they just want more! Since I switched them to a canned/raw mix of food they've also lost weight. Last year, the vet thought Yoda was overweight and wanted me to watch what he ate. This year she thought his weight was perfect.

I wish I could say the same about my weight. It's far from perfect, but over the last three years all the accidents and health issues have really changed my eating habits and activity level. I need to change that.

If I go by numbers, I'm 15 pounds heavier than the day I had my skiing accident three years ago last month. I put on about five pounds after that. A couple more after my surgery in November of that year. And the rest after the car accident two plus years ago. But I feel much heavier than that. I look it too.

I decided against spinal surgery unless it gets to the point I can't function, but enough is enough. I might still hurt on some days, but I'm ready to get healthy and active again. I decided to look for a push to get me headed in that direction. The last thing I need is to hurt myself again. I decided food would be a good place to start.

Climbing Cutie pointed me to the book It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig of Whole 9/Whole 30. I pre-ordered it from Amazon and it arrived on Wednesday. I read through the pertinent parts that night so I could get started right away. I had eggs and greens from our CSA so was good to go the next morning. I had fun hitting New Seasons to grocery shop on Thursday!

Today is Day 3 of 30 for me. It's an easy book to read. Very clear and approachable as they explain the science behind their program. The recipes in the book are easy to follow, too. Many are just ingredients that you can use to make things. It doesn't have to be exact which I like. (And yes, I'm actually cooking this stuff, not just hubby.) Last night I used one of the recipes to make a Mocha Steak Rub (I can't remember if that's the exact name), but it was yummy. The kids love the food I've made so far. Green Curry Chicken from two nights ago got a big thumbs up, too! Hubby, the main cook around here, was even impressed.

Whole 30 has it's roots in Paleo, but seems more grounded in real life and today (i.e. the present rather than the past.) For me, it's all about about changing habits and eating better foods so you are healthier. In a nut shell, you cut out grains, sugar, dairy, alcohol and legumes. You eat protein and veggies with a little fruit and some fat (the good kind. I bought clarified butter and coconut oil for the first time!) There's a lot more to it than that, but you can get the general idea from those things. But oh, how I'm going to miss Peanut Buster Parfaits from Dairy Queen over the next month!

I enjoy bread, but gluten has never been a friend of mine so it's kind of a none issue. They don't even want you eating non-gluten grains, though I asked and communion hosts at Mass are okay. I haven't drank alcohol except for a couple sips in the past 1 1/2 years (as the weight starting coming on I decided that wasn't where I wanted to add more calories from.) But dairy is a big one for me. I love cheese and ice cream. We're talking full on stalker-crush of those two things. But the hardest part for me is definitely the no sugar (i.e. chocolate since I snack on M&M or Sixlets when I write.) I've had a headache since yesterday so guessing my body is very used to that!

One thing I really like about the program is no measuring or counting. I'll do that for my cats' meals, but I don't want to have to do that for me. The book gives handy ways of estimating amounts of food for meals. You also don't step on the scale for 30 days! Weight loss will be a by-product of this, not the end result. The goal is eating better to improve health.

This won't be easy for me. I have very bad food/eating habits and have been a slug for quit a while now (I look back on the Crossfit Challenges and workouts I was doing before this and feel very sad), but I'll give it my best shot. I ate similar when Rose had all her health issues with food and never looked or felt better, but fell off the wagon when I stopped nursing her. So I know it'll work if I stick with it.

There is a website and forum associated with this called Whole 9 (link is above), but I just don't have the time to go there with revisions due soon even though the support would be great. Maybe once life slows down I will, but that's one reason I waited for the book to arrive.

So how are you doing health-wise? I know one of you, Quilt Lady, has been having back issues and needs surgery. Is everyone else doing well?

Bottoms

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My bottom was trying to take over, too, so I've gone on a gluten-free diet. Results after two weeks-4 to 5 pounds loss depending on the scale I use! Being sick hasn't helped since I'm doing zero exercise, but I'll take it. Nothing I was tried with my New Years weight loss resolution was working. I'd lose, gain, lose, you get the idea.

There are so many gluten-free products it's a lot different (that's is easier) than when I had to do this when I was nursing Rose and she had a gluten-intolerance. I also found a gluten-free bakery called New Cascadia Traditional in Portland. I plan to drive down there next week to buy pizza dough and bread.

Hope you have a nice weekend!

Hungry

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I saw this picture and could totally relate. I realized I've yet to eat breakfast!

My hubby is doing the Master Cleanse right now. That's the maple syrup, lemons and cayenne pepper concoction. He wanted me to do it, but I've got too much going on. The two older kidlets are in a drama production this week. There is an all-star swimming meet this weekend. I have to prepare way too many crafts for a meeting next Friday. I need to be all there in the head if you know what I mean.

A friend has done the cleanse, and I would like to give it a try one of these days. Just need to find a time when I don't have a lot going on! That might be a little tough!

Have you ever done a cleanse or a multi-day fast? If so, how was it?

Too Big

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Don't know about you, but I'm feeling a lot like this LOLcat. All the sweets and goodies during the holidays and there's still a few days left. I'm already trying to figure out what diet to try this time. After seven months of little to no activity I need to get in shape!

What about you? Are you happy with the shape you are in or is that something you'll be working on come the New Year.

Mountain Athlete

The Climbing Cutie attended a seminar at Mountain Athlete last weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was about how to train to improve your climbing. He said it was great and I can't wait to hear more about it. This picture of him ended up on the home page of the place's website!

I'm still a newbie, sucky climber, but I've learned one thing as I've used Crossfit to get in shape. Too much Crossfit actually hurts the climbing. At least my climbing. A body needs time to recover. The key is finding the right balance between climbing days and workout days. And that's where I need help so I'm thrilled Cutie went to this seminar. My hands might still hurt, but they aren't all tingly and numb anymore so it's time to start climbing again. I spent all winter and spring gym climbing a couple of times a week to get ready for this summer only to have to stop completely in June. It's a bummer and I know I'll have a lot of ground to make up.

I can't wait to sit down with the Climbing Cutie and talk to him about what he learned. I need a solid workout routine that will help me get stronger and improve my climbing. And I'm hoping what he learned is scalable based on fitness level ala Crossfit!

Speaking of Crossfit, I had a session with Nichole yesterday.

Warmup: 400 m run
Skills: Back Squats 45#
WOD: 3 rounds (21, 15, 9) Deadlifts 65#, Push ups (on rounds 2 and 3 I did ring rows instead of push ups)

I was dying. It was hot and I was hurting. But I did it! My max deadlift is 95#, but Nichole said it will be higher based on the reps I've been doing lately. I can't see what it is!

I'm also losing weight. Finally. Nothing like getting off deadline, stop eating donuts and chocolate and get the butt off the chair. What's really helped though is I stopped eating anything with gluten and sugar. That's pretty much put me onto a Zone diet without too much effort and planning. Already people are noticing, so that's good. And the pants that were too tight are starting to feel looser. I am allowing myself one dessert a week. On Sunday, I had a ice cream sundae with Butterfinger sprinkles at Great Wolf Lodge. Oh-so yummy!

I'm going to start taking the kids on hikes. Chaos needs to get out more and though the kids are having a fun time at Crossfit kids a couple of times a week, they need more fresh air than just playing in the yard and riding their bikes.

What physical activities will you be doing this summer?

You are what you eat

I put on a few pounds (not sure how many, but my waist band is tighter) during deadline time so my Crossfit trainer Nichole is helping me to eat healthier. I came across this video on one of my lists and thought it was really cool.



Better make sure all of these are on my grocery list!

How are you doing diet wise? Eating whatever you want or are you trying to watch what you eat?

Crossfit - more deadlifts

So I've been gaining weight. All this working out and the scale is going up not down. Talk about depressing, but I mentioned it to Nichole this morning and she said it was normal to gain weight when you start Crossfit. Restart in my case. She reminded me about not stepping on the scale (she'd told me that last fall) and go by how clothes are fitting instead. I guess I'll take her advice because people keep asking me if I've lost weight. I've been saying no (no way am I going to say I've gained weight anywhere but here and in the gym) but that I started working out a lot more.

This morning's session:

Warmup: Stretching and 2 rounds of 100 jumping ropes, 5 wall squats, 5 sit on medicine ball and stand up. (My squats are finally getting lower, but they need to get even lower. I have a hard time pushing from my heels to stand up with out bending over.)

Skills: Deadlift again (bar, 55 lbs, 75 lbs) and shoulder press (35 lbs) I finally feel as if I'm getting the correct form. Though on one of the deadlifts I took a deep breath and got so dizzy I thought I was going to pass out.

Workout: 1000m row

Cool down: Lots and lots of water


Speaking of fitness, I came across a couple links I wanted to share with you:

Building Muscle 101 talks about how everyone no matter what age or sex should be doing strength training. It also talks about diet.

From that blog, I followed a link to Fat Loss 101 which sounded right up my alley. The blog posts talks about fat loss being hormonal, and is worth a read.

And here's another from the second blog on intermittent fasting. This is a series of posts on intermittent fasting and longevity so keep scrolling down!

Do you weigh yourself and if so, how often?