Whole30, Day 30

[katinthehat]

Well, I made it. Mostly

My biggest no no was allowing myself dark chocolate (over 75%) once a day. A few times, I even used 100% cocoa. And I didn't pay too much attention to the oils because sometimes, coconut oil just doesn't cut it at high heat.

Here's what I put on my blog about it

Pros
* I guess it worked in many ways. I surely have never stuck to something this restricted in eating for 30 days before.
* I feel better physically. That afternoon slump where I needed my coffee is gone.
* My nails look better. They wen through a stage where they looked awful, but I think all that is grown out now because now they look really nice, smooth and a good color
* My acne almost completely cleared up. I think I’ve only had three pimples this whole month, which is some sort of record.
* My skin overall looks much better.
* I lost weight, 7.2 pounds from day one to day 30. My weighted average (which is what I usually go by dropped) went down 4.7 pounds over the past month.
* I lost inches, a total of five inches overall from hips, waist and bust
* I wake up a lot easier now and fall asleep quicker as well. Or at least I did until the time change messed with my sleep.
* I’m not nearly as snacky as I was a month ago. I still sometimes snack, but that has more to do with the fact my workout varies greatly from day to day, so it makes it hard to eat calorie consistent meals.

Not a pro, not a con, just observations
* I seem to have developed some GI issues. Nothing awful, but they weren’t there 30 days ago. I don’t know if it’s getting used to more veggies or a higher fat diet but either way, GI issues are here that weren’t before
* It made my cycle six days longer than normal. Not fun. It’s also not an easy going cycle, let’s just say that. However, one month isn’t long enough to know if this is a diet change or just bad luck.

Cons
* This has seriously messed with my head. I find myself sometimes opting not to eat when I can’t have what I really want. I’ve had breakdowns over not being able to have a grilled cheese and a hamburger bun.
* I was borderline depressed going in to this (have been ever since I found myself in a cast) and I still feel that way. I’m really unable to see that I’ve made any progress, mentally or physically. All I can see is the ways that I’ve failed.

Despite those last two things, I’m keeping on with this until Easter. Mainly because I know I haven’t been “perfect” and so I want to give it more time being as close to perfect as I can on it. Mainly omitting the chocolate that I have more than indulged in the past 30 days.

Long term, my plan is to keep this up until Easter. Then, through April and May, add back in dairy and coffee and dark chocolate (over 75%). Also, on weekends, being okay with SWOPing things. Paleo pancakes FTW! We have a wedding to go to the first weekend in May, so when we get back from that, I’ll do another Whole30 round. I’ll need it after vacation. I kind of plan on cycling through like that for a bit, add something in, see how I feel, then go back to Whole30.

Anyway, one Whole30 down, Whole31-49 coming up!

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I took some before and after pictures and my poor husband thought my after picture was my before one :/

For reference, the before is the left, after is the right. This message will self district in 30 seconds Inspector Gadget style

[sockerheel]

Wow! Way to go! I only made it 5 days, so I can imagine how hard it was. I can definitely tell a difference in your before and after photos.

On a side note, is it really that close to Easter already?!?

[sockerheel]

How were your workouts? Did they suffer at all?

[katinthehat]

Well, I think if anything they improved but I hesitate to use the word workout for what I've been doing. I've just been swimming, biking and walking. I've gone from a 500 yard straight set of swimming to 1000 yards straight set. I've biked my second longest distance ever, 29.5 miles with a friend that is training for Ironman Texas and I'm walking up to two miles now. I don't think that Whole30 had any difference in these one way or another. I think I would have noticed more had I been doing strength training though.

[agswife]

Looking good, Kat! And kudos to sticking to it!

[kams]

These are awesome details. Congratulations on your commitment - I don't know that I could do it even with the chocolate! Looking great, as always!

[bullygirl979]

You can totally see a difference! Great job!

[GracieLouFreebush1]

I can definitely see a difference! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm on day 14 of W30 and it's hard to find stuff that's compliant (sugar or off limit oils are in ev.ery.thing.) but this is so motivating to see.

[MrsE]

Way to go! Thanks for sharing your pros and cons list (and observations). I've debated attempting a whole 30 but I'm not sure I have the will power to do it.

[Deleted]

How do you keep this up with little ones in the house? I always find myself eating their leftovers, because I hate wasted food. Not to mention, if it's in the house I'll eat it. One weak moment, and I'll be shoveling bunny grahams in my mouth.

[katinthehat]

GracieLouFreebush1 I have to admit, I was not a stickler for the oils. I knew going in to this, my issues were way more emotional than any physical reactions to food, so I kind of took the oils thing with a grain of salt. When I cooked for myself, it was coconut oil. But when my husband cooked for the family, he used a lot of grapeseed oil. That was one area where I wasn't as pure as I could have been.

@tifvolley what I fed my kids changed a lot! They're 4.5 and 2.5 and thankfully, pretty good eaters. Snacks moved from boxed stuff to things like apples and bananas with almond butter or cashews and raisins. They still get their fair share of processed things (and bunny grahams are my weakness!) but I really did try to feed them better as well.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 13, 2013 20:17:42 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

GracieLouFreebush1 I have to admit, I was not a stickler for the oils. I knew going in to this, my issues were way more emotional than any physical reactions to food, so I kind of took the oils thing with a grain of salt. When I cooked for myself, it was coconut oil. But when my husband cooked for the family, he used a lot of grapeseed oil. That was one area where I wasn't as pure as I could have been.

@tifvolley what I fed my kids changed a lot! They're 4.5 and 2.5 and thankfully, pretty good eaters. Snacks moved from boxed stuff to things like apples and bananas with almond butter or cashews and raisins. They still get their fair share of processed things (and bunny grahams are my weakness!) but I really did try to feed them better as well.

I'm eating bacon w/ sugar in it and have been flexible on some of the oils too.  Gotta do what you gotta do!

@tifvolley, I have a 20 month old and she's been eating more fruit and vegetables thanks to W30.  There are some great blogs out there for meal ideas that husbands and kids will like too!

[katinthehat]

yes, my bacon sometimes had sugar in it as well. I was sure my sausage didn't though, just because there were so many options. I can't believe how many eggs we go through now!

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 13, 2013 20:26:03 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

yes, my bacon sometimes had sugar in it as well. I was sure my sausage didn't though, just because there were so many options. I can't believe how many eggs we go through now!

TWO DOZEN per week for our family of 3.  It's insane.  Thankfully we have an Amish market where I can get cage free eggs for semi-cheap.

[katinthehat]

haha! We've gone through 30 in six days, but there are four of us. We have a local place that sells nesting hens and then sells their eggs, so that's where we get ours. They aren't organic but we can pet the hens, so I call that a draw.

[sadlebred]

You look great, Kat!

[Deleted]

Wow! You did awesome! I really enjoyed reading your breakdown of it. Good luck for the next few weeks!

[D2M]

Wow, this is definitely something I could not do myself. Kudos to you. And I also can see a difference.

[shauni27]

Good for you for sticking with it, I cannot imagine it was easy! I can see a difference for sure in those two pictures. I am really tempted to do this, but our grocery bill would double, as I know my husband would not eat that way.

As a side note, I love your new siggy pic!

[RoryGilmore]

Great job! And I really appreciated reading your reflections. I can totally see a difference and didn't even need to read which pic was which -- it was that obvious. Can't wait to hear how it goes from now until Easter.

[katinthehat]

carrotsmakemefat I'll message you as to not gross everyone out