Whole30 or Bust!

If you follow the news at all you know that the last few months have not been that easy here in Columbia, SC. The 100 year flood took a huge toll. It also took a toll on my waist line. Now I know that's not really news worthy but this is my blog and therefore I dictate the news. So there. 

I worked really hard last summer (July-ish) to lose weight and lost 5-6lbs. I was under my "scary weight" and felt good. Then BAM. The flood. The gym closed and we were busy with all kinds of clean up and stress and all that it takes to recover as a city. Then we worked out remotely from another gym, but I was so busy that I only worked out 2x per week compared to 5x per week. Plus my workout partner, affectionately known as Sparky, bailed for a few months to take care of family. Add in the holidays and well ladies and gentlemen, you have another natural disaster on your hands. 

I'm about to turn the big 4-0 in a couple of months and I vowed to be under my scary weight before then. In comes a friend who encouraged me to try Whole30. She was starting it for the second time because she too wanted to lose a little more weight and kick her bad habits that snuck back in. 

Here's about how it went...

I leave the gym completely motivated. I mean I can eat what she had for breakfast (steamed broccoli and eggs). I can totally do it if it's going to "melt off" [her words]. I'm totally in! Plus all I have to do is buy the book versus counting points, watching portions in boxes, pretending to give something up for a day or two or whatever it is I've tried in the past. 

Off I go practically skipping through the Barnes and Noble parking lot. Totally got this. 

I ask the guy at the counter where the book is and shocker, it's January and thus on the book display. I thought, hmmm, maybe I should skim this to understand the gist so I know if I need any extra prep tomorrow. 

I sit peacefully, with my Starbucks' mocha and start reading...I'm glad it was in a corner because I'm sure my face began to contort in all kinds of ugly ways as I read the heart of it. 

30 days of...
No sugar of any kind. [OK I expected this one]
No alcohol [ouch that will cut deep]
No legumes [sheesh!]
No bread [yeah, expected this one too]
No chemicals like MSG [umm, OK]
No dairy [really!? what kind of program is this!?]

I try to tell myself it can't be that bad so I keep reading. The more I read and drank my delicious sugary, chocolate coffee, the more I thought: Not no but hell no!

I put the book down and walked out. Pretty sure there was a fast sprint to the car. 

I phone a friend, tell her what happened for sympathy. She too had just read up on the program and said the same thing - Nope. I feel better. 

Later that same night another friend pops over who happened to have also done the program and convinced me that it wasn't as bad as it seems. It's hard but it actually really helped her change her lifestyle to make much better choices. She's also lost weight and kept it off. 

The torment! The torture! The conversation in my head was sort've like this: 

     Can I? 

     Nope. 
     Yes you can. No you can't. The wine alone will be hard enough much less the              dairy, bread and sugar!

Then in true fashion I just fold and decide to think about it in the morning and say a little prayer for guidance. 

The next morning I feel so sluggish. Sort've gross. Disappointed I had indulged too much the night before on things that were clearly not helping with weight loss. THAT'S IT!

I buy the book and off we go. 

Wednesday was Day 1. I knew if I was going to commit it was now or never...or I would talk myself out of it. Plus I wanted to be done by Valentine's Day and in time to go visit some Besties in Raleigh to celebrate their 4-0. 

Here's a glimpse of my first day...

This is what I used to eat for breakfast (plus 2 cups of coffee with a little cream and sugar in the raw): 

It's sad but true. An unfrosted strawberry pop-tart is one of the few things that I can eat that doesn't make me want to vomit during a workout...so they just sort've stuck. 

But yesterday, this was my breakfast (and I wasn't working out): 

It was two hard boiled eggs mixed with fresh (practically homemade) mayo, salt, pepper and mustard powder; hot tea with lemon; steamed spinach with lemon juice and water. I figured out that I DO NOT LIKE coffee with just coconut milk. So tea it was. 

For lunch I had the following: 

Small spinach salad with a hard boiled egg, almond slivers and homemade vinaigrette; roasted purple potatoes and a small hamburger cooked on the skillet. It was very delicious and I must say, satisfying. 

For dinner I tweaked my cottage pie recipe and instead of using instant potatoes I used real that had clarified butter, salt, pepper and unsweetened almond milk.  I also skipped the corn starch in the beef mixture. 

It was almost as delicious as the original recipe (let's face it - roasted garlic and Parmesan potatoes taste better than the simple version). I ate this again for lunch today as a matter of fact. 

Did I snack? A little. When I craved something sweet I had an apple or an orange. I think I ate 2 small tangerines and an apple yesterday. I drank Lacroix if I wanted a fizzy drink and unsweetened tea if I wanted something with flavor. But generally I just drank water. 

I did try black coffee with unsweetened almond milk today and it was tolerable. Not great but it gave me the satisfying coffee I needed. 

I also worked out today and thought I was going to pass out. My body is literally in shock. It was screaming "I NEED A POP-TART! WHERE ARE MY CARBS!?" as I tried to swing a kettle bell and push a prowler. But I'm assured that this passes as my body learns to use it's fat storage and the better foods I'm eating instead of the quick carbs I usually feed it. 

Anyone else tried it? I know you're not supposed to weigh-in but I'm totally weighing on Wednesday. I need the motivation. I even have a little calendar where I'm checking off the days. 

If you've tried it, I'd love to hear your journey and how you felt at the end!

Stay tuned! I'm sure this will be a physical AND emotional journey!  

Table of carbs, please! My first week seeing a nutritionist.

Enough is enough. I had a breakdown last Sunday when once again, my little bit of weight I've lost was gained again. You see, I’ve been on Weight Watchers for the past 8 weeks (online). Since they switched to the Points Plus Plan, I've never really been successful but was willing to try since it wasn't expensive. I used to do the “old plan” and lost 20+ lbs each time. I was determined that I needed to try and get this last 10lbs of baby weight off plus I had the camaraderie of two friends joining me. But after 8 weeks, I bounced up and down and in the end only lost .6 lbs. Yes, that’s point 6 pounds. As in not even a full pound.

I've come to accept my changed body after pregnancy. It only took me 2 years (I’m a slow in acceptance and learning in some areas). I’m not striving for skinny. I’m looking for a healthy weight and one where I’m comfortable with myself. I could stand to lose more than 10lbs but 10 is where I’d feel really good about myself and likely more maintainable. A “low size 12” as I call it. I already work out consistently (my husband is a wellness coach/trainer) so fitness isn't my problem. I knew it was diet.

So enough was enough. I finally decided to ask the nutritionist at the gym to help me. I knew my insulin resistance (I have poly-cystic ovary syndrome or PCOS) was having an effect and well…my age. Big difference between 34 and 38.

She graciously saw me quickly and gave me a general rule “If God didn't make it, you shouldn't be eating it.” Think about it…no processed foods, no breads, no sweets…wait. That was a lot of my diet. Apparently because of my PCOS/insulin resistance, my body hates me and fights against all efforts to lose weight. Super. So it will be doubly difficult for me to try and get this last 10lbs off. But it also felt good for someone to validate that PCOS is having an effect on my weight loss…well that and all the processed foods. Calories for me are very different than calories for someone without PCOS.

Armed with some recipes (that I wasn't so sure about) and general rules in addition to the “If God didn't make it, don’t eat it” rule, off I started immediately. My exercise goal was to be 30 minutes a day. Every Day.

Day 1: It’s not so bad. I was prepared for severe limitations in my diet. OK I know that’s not the outlook I’m supposed to have. I’m supposed to say “I was prepared for a HEALTHY lifestyle change” but if I’m real…its limitations. Well actually its denial. I don’t do well with limitations or denial, let’s face it. I eat well today but am not prepared because I need to hit the grocery store. I’m hungry. (1 hr of training at gym done)

Day 2: I still haven’t gone to the grocery store yet so I’m scrounging for food. Eating what fruit I can find (apples), cheese and deli meat. Sort’ve a Parisian Diet if you will. I’m grouchy. I walk by and the Easter dark chocolate eggs scream “EAT ME!”   I’m pretty sure they follow me around the kitchen tormenting me because everywhere I turn, I see them. When I open the pantry every processed food option starts vying for my attention “look how delicious I am!” – “no wait! Over here! I’m filled with all kinds of yumminess!” It’s. Torture. But at least I made it to the grocery store. I keep repeating “weight loss is more important than …weight loss is more important than ” But not so important that I don’t have a small martini. It was worth it.

Day 3: Second day of eating 2 hard-boiled eggs for breakfast (which I doctored with a little sour cream, salt and pepper). Not very satisfying but it holds me over. Feeling proud that I’m doing this. I can do this, right? Might be obsessing a little bit. I've told anyone who will listen that I’m seeing a nutritionist. My husband is a wee bit tired of it already. Or is he just tired of me being grouchy? I didn't feel as hungry today because I made kielbasa-bean soup and it tasted really good and kept me full. I also now have food in the house that I can eat. Tonight I broke down and made another martini. I needed it mentally. Oh and I ate three of those M&Ms that were stalking me. That’ll show ‘em! It fixed my craving for chocolate though and now I can have the discipline to forge on. (1 hr of training at gym done)

Day 4: I.cannot.eat.another.egg. I want to cry when I wake up thinking I have to eat another egg and I’m STARVING. Then I realize that I can eat oatmeal. I even put in a little brown sugar (whoops). Best oatmeal I've ever had. I have serious addiction issues. Addiction to processed foods, especially carb filled ones. I’m not making this up. I really feel like I’m in detox. If there was a Betty Ford Center for carb addictions, I should be checking in right now. My body is completely revolting against this new lifestyle. Cole (2.5 yrs) wants a bite of my oatmeal. My first instinct is to growl at him but I refrain. I’m his mother. I’m supposed to love and nurture. He wants more. Oh no! He wants more! Is there no stopping this child!? I manage to let him share with me without biting his little fingers as he eats each bite from my bowl. I feel better. Healthy carbs have stabilized me.   (I later learn I wasn't supposed to have the brown sugar and it was feeding my addiction. Honey or fruit would have been better. Not sure she knew my true mental state so maybe brown sugar was better!?)

I talked with my nutritionist too. She tells me I have 11 days until the detox is complete and the cravings subside. SEVEN (7!!!) more days to go. I give myself a pep talk…and look forward to popcorn. It’s all that’s getting me through the day. I’m counting down the minutes to see the movie tonight. Not because I want to see Noah or go on a date with my sweet, adorable husband but because I get popcorn for dinner. No, it’s not technically part of the nutritional plan but there’s nutrition to lose weight and there’s quality of life. I need this in order not to kill someone. Oh and the movie was awful…but the popcorn was heaven. (1 hour of training at gym done)

Day 5: I feel fantastic! Tons of energy – my cravings are less now that I’m in day 5 and I even feel inspired to go for 30 minutes of cardio after I spend all morning cleaning the house and watching the kids. Today is a good day!

Oh wait. I open a new box of Whonu chocolate chip cookies for the boys. The smell that transcends my nostrils overtakes me. I ate one. But man! was that a good cookie.

We go on a double date to a new restaurant. I’m prepared to have a salad, baked potato with limited toppings and a steak. I’m actually looking forward to it. Low and behold it doesn't work that way here (it’s the Cowboy Brazilian Steak House where they bring slabs of meat to your table). I check out their salad bar. Heaven. I see all kinds of foods I like and not just lettuce and toppings. In fact, it’s mostly not those items. I pile shrimp, cheese, olives, and artichoke hearts on to my plate. Plus I have a martini. Ahh. Great food – great company. Feeling better. And I’m stuffed…

I learned later that I felt so good today because of the extra calories from the popcorn last night. I need to increase my calories a little next week.

Day 6: I have a horrible headache. Day 5 was the only day I haven’t had a headache all week. See? I told you my body was in full detox mode. I decide to take a nap while the boys are down instead of workout after church. I’m just too exhausted and my head is killing me. I’m also making homemade marinara sauce minus the cream for dinner.

I skip the pasta tonight. The raviolis we cooked weren't very tasty and I realized not worth the processed food calories. Instead I opt for another Parisian Meal since it’s what I have on hand – olives, mozzarella cheese, salami and roasted red peppers. Meeting with the nutritionist tomorrow. I’m a little nervous. This week was hard. I mean HARD. And I wasn't the most pleasant person to be around. Please don’t let her be disappointed I ate M&Ms, popcorn and a cookie! Plus I weigh tomorrow.

Success!

I lost 1.8 lbs this week! 80% is probably water weight but I don’t care. Weight is weight. I also have a little more energy and feel much less “puffy”. Plus my nutritionist gave me goals that were realistic to work towards for next week. 

1. Eat less salt. (yeah, yeah, yeah. I gave up wine and sugar…salt was the least of my worries last week!)  
2. Eat ½ cup beans every day (hmmm…must think how I can do this. Need more recipes.)
3. Eat 3 fruits a day (Ok, almost doing that now)
4. Prepare my foods in advance. Food prep. Food prep. Food prep. Especially for lunches at home so I’m not tempted.
5. Increase my leafy greens, maybe in the form of a smoothie. (I think I can, I think I can!)

Week 2 here I come! 

(as I try to hold my head high and not think about carbs)