My (long) Whole30 Recap

[GracieLouFreebush1]

I made it!  I went from typically eating out one meal per day to Whole30.  I had a couple rough days in the first week but it feels really routine now.  Even with the extra grocery trips we definitely saved money by not eating out...which I promptly spent on workout clothes.

For me, the toughest part was meal planning, shopping, prepping, and clean up...nothing with W30 seems to be quick and easy.  Since we were so used to eating out, all the grocery trips and cooking and dishes were a change.  Like I said though, it's become pretty routine now.

I'm going to stick with eating mostly Paleo (100% Paleo 80% of the time, right!?).  I lost 10lbs over the month and my stomach (which I'm very self conscious about) is so much flatter!  I didn't track any cals and was not hungry during this (cravings are another story)!

I have free access to a Bod Pod so I did that this morning w/ H.  It was perfect timing considering today is Day 31 and I've planned a few treats for today and tomorrow.  It really opened my eyes and encouraged me to stick with CrossFit to keep building muscle and stick with Paleo to keep losing fat.  The Bod Pod people helped me set future weight and body composition goals and I'm *excited* about it whereas I've always dreaded diets and trying to lose weight in the past.  They also helped me pinpoint a daily calorie goal-- I didn't track calories at all during W30 but I know I'll need to watch it more closely to get to my goal weight and body composition.

Since it was helpful for me to see other people's meal ideas, my go to's were spaghetti squash with homemade tomato/meat sauce, Well Fed's Paleo Pad Thai, Nom Nom Paleo's bacon and mushroom burger patties w/ fixings and Paleo mayo, a steamed artichoke dipped in Paleo mayo, and tuna mixed w/ some Paleo mayo.

If you have a fantastic Paleo recipe, please leave me the link!  I want to expand our options so we don't get bored and Paleo is a little looser than W30.

[naldridge]

We discovered this during Whole30 but it is quite possibly one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth, so we continue to make it all the time (with or without eggs).

www.thekitchn.com/brunch-recipe-s-162997

[jeanl]

That is so great, Gracie! Congrats on your weight loss and finding a new way to eat/live! I started eating Paleo in January and love the changes in my body and how I feel! Way to go!

[hokiegirl82]

Congrats!! I'm starting a Whole30 challenge at Crossfit on Monday, and I'm a little scared of the challenge. Not because I haven't done it before (I did a 60 day challenge through CF last spring and that was pretty tough but I was 100% all the way through it), but because during April I have a trip home to see my parents and a trip to Austin to compete with. I'm pretty sure I'll cheat just a teeny bit with a beer or two in Austin, but I'm going to to my best to stick to it. Your success is really motivating!

[clseale]

OMG, naldridge, that looks amazing!

Congrats, Gracie!!

[kams]

Congratulations! That is amazing!

Diet is where I really lack discipline, so I'm very impressed.

[clseale]

The meals don't seem as difficult to me as the snacks. What do you guys usually snack on when following a diet like this?

[rugbywife]

Mar 29, 2013 10:42:20 GMT -5 clseale said:

The meals don't seem as difficult to me as the snacks. What do you guys usually snack on when following a diet like this?

hard boiled eggs
veggies
small amounts of fruit (depends on how strictly you are doing it)
almonds (or other nuts)

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 29, 2013 11:04:22 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Mar 29, 2013 10:42:20 GMT -5 clseale said:

The meals don't seem as difficult to me as the snacks. What do you guys usually snack on when following a diet like this?

hard boiled eggs
veggies
small amounts of fruit (depends on how strictly you are doing it)
almonds (or other nuts)

Ditto this.  Plus, my H talked me into a food dehydrator and has made us delicious Paleo-friendly beef jerky.

I really don't snack as much as I used to though.  That's saying a lot b/c I WAH so it's very easy to.  I have something between lunch and dinner so I don't get cranky.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 29, 2013 10:31:59 GMT -5 hokiegirl82 said:

Congrats!! I'm starting a Whole30 challenge at Crossfit on Monday, and I'm a little scared of the challenge. Not because I haven't done it before (I did a 60 day challenge through CF last spring and that was pretty tough but I was 100% all the way through it), but because during April I have a trip home to see my parents and a trip to Austin to compete with. I'm pretty sure I'll cheat just a teeny bit with a beer or two in Austin, but I'm going to to my best to stick to it. Your success is really motivating!

Good luck!  I'm going home for two weeks in April so I know my diet won't be perfect.  I'm going to try my best and make sure I get in exercise still to counter some of the horrendous eating that's likely to occur!

naldridge, thanks!  I might have to try that for our Easter brunch meal!

[naldridge]

Mar 29, 2013 11:10:06 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

Mar 29, 2013 11:04:22 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

hard boiled eggs
veggies
small amounts of fruit (depends on how strictly you are doing it)
almonds (or other nuts)

Ditto this.  Plus, my H talked me into a food dehydrator and has made us delicious Paleo-friendly beef jerky.

I really don't snack as much as I used to though.  That's saying a lot b/c I WAH so it's very easy to.  I have something between lunch and dinner so I don't get cranky.

GracieLouFreebush1 Can you share the recipe for the paleo-friendly beef jerky? We have a dehydrator and I LOVE BEEF JERKY but most are full of sugar. Boo.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 29, 2013 11:31:10 GMT -5 naldridge said:

Mar 29, 2013 11:10:06 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

Ditto this.  Plus, my H talked me into a food dehydrator and has made us delicious Paleo-friendly beef jerky.

I really don't snack as much as I used to though.  That's saying a lot b/c I WAH so it's very easy to.  I have something between lunch and dinner so I don't get cranky.

GracieLouFreebush1 Can you share the recipe for the paleo-friendly beef jerky? We have a dehydrator and I LOVE BEEF JERKY but most are full of sugar. Boo.

We've done this one so far b/c it was W30 compliant ...but I skipped the lime juice and added some cayenne b/c we like a little spice.

www.briangreen.net/2012/06/paleo-friendly-beef-jerky-recipe.html

There's other Paleo ones that use maple syrup or honey as sweetener if you Google....haven't tried those yet.

[softspot]

Congrats! I think I need to do a challenge to become stricter.

[kams]

Mar 29, 2013 12:09:29 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Congrats on your 30 day accomplishment!

You know, the more ladies that successfully and intelligently make it through this Whole30 business almost makes me want to try it.

This is so me right now.

i have been sitting here pinning W30 recipes and writing meal plans out...I'm really thinking the time is now. You ladies are inspiring.

[coconutbug]

Mar 29, 2013 16:01:21 GMT -5 kams said:

Mar 29, 2013 12:09:29 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Congrats on your 30 day accomplishment!

You know, the more ladies that successfully and intelligently make it through this Whole30 business almost makes me want to try it.

This is so me right now.

i have been sitting here pinning W30 recipes and writing meal plans out...I'm really thinking the time is now. You ladies are inspiring.

So true.  I've been on the fence for the past month, but am going to take a closer look at recipes and plans tonight.  I'm up for a new challenge and need to curb my junk eating. 

[kams]

Mar 29, 2013 16:29:10 GMT -5 coconutbug said:

Mar 29, 2013 16:01:21 GMT -5 kams said:

This is so me right now.

i have been sitting here pinning W30 recipes and writing meal plans out...I'm really thinking the time is now. You ladies are inspiring.

So true.  I've been on the fence for the past month, but am going to take a closer look at recipes and plans tonight.  I'm up for a new challenge and need to curb my junk eating. 

We could be accountability buddies if you want! I think I'm going to take the plunge starting Monday. I just need to figure out my strategy for long workouts.

[naldridge]

I would do it loosely again with some adaptations. I want to incorporate a lot more fat into my diet but otherwise I eat pretty Paleo, anyways. I am not doing to deal with the nitty gritty details of W30 though, like nitrites and whatever disqualifies almond milk. I think the salsa we buy has trace amounts of added sugar, too. My major W30 hurdle is artificial sweeteners - it's worth it to really start tasting the sweetness of natural foods but the thought of black coffee makes me sad.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 29, 2013 16:32:10 GMT -5 kams said:

Mar 29, 2013 16:29:10 GMT -5 coconutbug said:

So true.  I've been on the fence for the past month, but am going to take a closer look at recipes and plans tonight.  I'm up for a new challenge and need to curb my junk eating. 

We could be accountability buddies if you want! I think I'm going to take the plunge starting Monday. I just need to figure out my strategy for long workouts.

Doooo it!

[katinthehat]

congrats GracieLouFreebush1 that's so wonderful and inspiring!

naldridge, coffee was a big deal to me, but I found I could easily switch to black earl grey tea with no problem. I could drink black coffee okay, but found myself resenting it and angry every morning at missing my cream and sugar. Tea was much better for me and now, post Whole30, coffee with heavy cream is perfect, I don't miss sugar in it at all.

[MrsManners]

Great recap! Congrats on your Whole30 success.

[winecat]

Mar 30, 2013 11:44:02 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

congrats GracieLouFreebush1 that's so wonderful and inspiring!

naldridge, coffee was a big deal to me, but I found I could easily switch to black earl grey tea with no problem. I could drink black coffee okay, but found myself resenting it and angry every morning at missing my cream and sugar. Tea was much better for me and now, post Whole30, coffee with heavy cream is perfect, I don't miss sugar in it at all.

I'm on my 3rd day and am pissed at missing the cream in my coffee.