A Week Off Whole 30 and My First Week of Work at the New Job!

I have been off Whole 30 a week and been at a new job a week and a half…. Things are going well. I am still working on getting into a new routine, but its coming along it doesn’t help that I have some sinus funk – pretty sure its an infection because the hubs had one but I am trying to sleep and vitamin treat mine away opposed to going to the doctor – if I still feel bad in two days I am going to bite the bullet and see the doctor!

I got a 7 day pass to a new gym and I like it – the gym I was a member of when working at my old job has a partner gym nearby – and since I had to give a 30 day notice I am still a member of til the end of this month so I tried it out yesterday – its not good, but I am paying for it so I will use it… then change to the gym I tried the pass for. I forgot my sports bra yesterday so I was working out in my normal bra – which is NOT fun when you have a chest, so I stuck to no cardio and did an old lower body Jaime Eason phase 1 workout – I got in a good sweat, but not too terrible… this morning I packed my sports bra and I am ready to go! I am going to have to get used to packing my gym bag every day – that was a luxury of my old gym - I had a locker and could bring clothes for the week on Monday and leave em in there all week – not an option anymore!

Last week we had a team building event at an indoor race track! For the qualifying round I was the FASTEST female… and one of only two women in the top 10 group – which meant for the finals I was screwed… haha… but I had a blast! I didn't realize the slow group would have a winners bracket as well or I would have played that out differently!

 

This past weekend was a good friend of mine from college’s wedding (we lived together for two years) and it was beautiful – it was in Austin outside – looking over Lake Travis at Vintage Villas – gorgeous location for a wedding… Friday we drove up to our place and spend Saturday morning doing a few chores and then sighting in my rifle – I LOVE my new 7mm08!!!!! It’s a blast to shoot!

 

Then we got cleaned up and headed to Austin for the wedding..

 

 we drove home that night and spend a lazy Sunday at home with the fluffies relaxing all day.

 

 

 

We are headed to the hill country this weekend with friends to hit up some wineries – to say I am excited is an understatement!

Whole 30 Results

 
Sorry, things have been busy lately- starting the new job last week has kept me from the blog – but I

LOVE it here! The people are great and although I am on information overload trying to get up to speed I think its going to be great for me stress level wise. I have had a few cheat meals here and there, but have kept it on point diet wise for the most part – which should be included in my results discussion – normally after diets/restrictions I go crazy with the food and gain a ton of weight – I am not up any from the end of my challenge last Tuesday – and I have been keeping it healthy 90% of the time! I am proud of myself for that!

 

My results-

I lost 10lbs in 30 days – I have NEVER lost this much weight that quickly!

I lost 14.5 inches!! 4.5 of those are from my waist ALONE!

 

The one on the left was taken the weekend before I started and the one on the right was taken this past weekend ....

 

I am thinking I have a gluten intolerance because I lose weight easier when I am not eating gluten AND other than the initial few headaches of the toxins leaving my body I only had one migraine over the 30 days… so I am going to try to stick to gluten free most of the time.

 

I want to keep up with the Whole 30, but a modified version, I am adding back in:

Almond milk

Greek yogurt

Cheese (in moderation)

Salad dressings – I missed my Ranch too much! (also in moderation)

Beans

Peanut butter

One cheat meal a week!

 

We will see how this goes – but I would HIGHLY recommend Whole 30 to any and everyone!

I Finished The Whole 30!!!

I finished the Whole 30 yesterday… I cant believe I was actually able to stick with something diet related and by diet related I mean what I eat, for an entire month! Today is day 31 and usually after a diet plan (IE after I finished the Advocare 10 day cleanse the two times I did that) I binge eat all day on crap food. Instead, this morning I had a protein shake with almond milk – I missed my shakes and my milk and for a snack I will be having my greek yogurt this morning and for lunch I packed a perfectly fit meals of a bunless turkey burger and sweet potato with an apple and PB lined up for an afternoon snack. I am planning on a cheat meal soon, but want it to be something yummy and I can’t decide what to splurge on!

 

For my last lunch on Whole 30 I had bbq beef brisket - lean cuts, and green beans

 

 

 

For my last whole 30 dinner I had baked zucchini and yellow squash and turkey chilli with frozen fruit for dessert ( I am loving Dole's mix of pineapple,  mango, peaches, and strawberries - got it at Sams!)

 

 

 

I have decided to mostly keep up with the Whole 30 plan, but I am adding back in protein shakes, dairy, peanut butter, and a few whole grains from time to time other than just sweet potatoes! I will be giving myself one cheat meal a week – this is a lifestyle change and I want to stay on track and stay sane! I may do another round of Whole 30 after some time off – but for now clean eating is where I am going to try to stay - and try to keep watch over my macros to keep my carbs in the lower side. I know I am sensitive to carbs and have to be aware of that. I am not at my goal yet – but I am way closer today than I was 30 days ago. I was able to weigh in this morning, but didn’t get to get my measurements – so my results post will be up tomorrow with all the final details.

 

I did want to post today and share the other benefits from the Whole 30 that I have noticed.

 

1.      Less headaches/migraines – these have ALWAYS been a problem for me and I am starting to think I may have a gluten sensitivity! Over the past month – after the first few days of detox headaches – I only had one tension headache and had only one migraine.  I had a lot of nights where I was so busy I didn’t get much sleep due to early flights/travel/special events – in the past, anytime I had less than 6 hours of sleep I knew I would be getting a migraine the next morning – that only happened to me once over the past month and I had over 4/5 nights of less than 6 hours of sleep. I may enjoy this result more than the weight loss!

2.      My skin is clearer than its ever been- I usually am broken out – its mild most of the time, but ususally right before that time of the month it gets bad – like I am 13 all over again. Well its that time of the month right now and I am loving how clear my skin looks! My face isn’t half as greasy as it used to be … and for that matter my hair isn’t either! Its really helped balance my complexion and hair A LOT.

3.      I FEEL healthier… I feel amazing actually. I think that’s why I didn’t go pick up a doughnut or Chick-fil-a first thing this morning. I haven’t felt this good/healthy since right before my wedding and I love how I feel and want to keep it up.

4.      I did notice a lack of energy in the beginning with trying to workout, but the last few workouts I got in there was no issues. I did take off about a week and a half because I was off work and when I don’t have a set schedule I struggle, but I went yesterday and got in a KILLER workout and felt great!

5.      I found a few new recipes that I really enjoy and learned to cook veggies without cheese and actually like eating them and enjoyed the flavor!

6.      I can see a difference in pictures of how I look – I don’t even need to take my measurements to know I am down… and I am down during a stressful time in my life – transitioning to a new job after working at the same place for over 3.5 years! I am a stress eater – and I am learning to eat when I am really hungry not just emotional!

7.      I have confidence that I lost for a while!

 

I would HIGHLY recommend this program for anyone who is on the fence about it or wants to reset your cravings and how you feel about food. Its helped me tremendously and honestly I did NOT think that I would be able to do it, but I did and I am so very glad I did too!

 

I will post my physical results tomorrow – so be sure to come check back on those – its pretty amazing how much your body can change in 30 days with no “cheats”.

 

 

Whole 30 - The Home Stretch and My Friends Wedding

A few more recent meals from my Whole 30 plan -

 

 

Venison steak, baked zucchini and squash with Italian seasonings and olive oil with fruit and coffee for dessert

 

 

lunch in Virginia this weekend, off the menu grilled shrimp and veggies grilled in olive oil and garlic

 

wedding night meal - I ate the meat out of the jambalaya, BBQ pork no sauce, meatballs, spinach (there was some cheese in it), a few baked beans, and some fruit for dessert - I avoided the wedding cake - that is the first wedding I have ever been to that I didn't have cake!

 

lunch at the airport Sunday - Applebee's Roma chicken and shrimp no potatoes sub steamed broccoli - it was really good! dinner was also at an airport - but I was running late for a flight so no pic, got the 6 ounce grilled sirloin and steamed veggies

 

last night we grilled up the bacon wrapped venison tenderloins - I peeled off the bacon, and had more baked zucchini and half a baked sweet potato

 

a few pics from the wedding this weekend... it was a blast!

 

I started my new job yesterday and I LOVE IT! A few pics of the views from my office (they ran out of space so I had to get a managers office- I am not complaining) :

and I came home to anniversary flowers from the hubs! two years of marriage yesterday!!! :)

 



Whole 30- one week left and Easter Weekend Update

Breakfast at the airport... eggs and a banana

 

 

 

 eggs, sweet potato bites, and sausage for breakfast - I ended up splitting this and having it over two mornings with mixed fruit

 

 

roast and a sweet potato

 

 

 pork tenderloin and salad with olive oil and a little balsamic vinaigrette

 

 

 

I didn't get pictures of all of my food because I didn't want the in laws questioning why I was constantly taking pictures of my food so I was trying to be discrete, but we ate at home all weekend but one meal I had out and I had Salsarita's grilled chicken salad no taco shell

 

 

the hubs and I had our first theme park experience together.. and it wasn't the best... we waited in line 2 hours to ride the first ride, and it started raining while we were waiting... then I went to ride a second ride with his two brothers and he and his dad waited in the gift shop because it was raining even harder - the good thing about that is the line was shorter - only 30 min wait, but the rain was a buzz kill

 

luckily we got a pic before the long wait and rain:

 

 

Bass Pro with his half brothers... teaching them how to shoot

 

 

 

 

us at the outlet mall shopping

 

Easter Sunday

 

 

some pics of my hubs when he was little... super cute!

 

 

I lost another pound this weekend! This was my first Easter without candy! I am super excited to take my measurements next week after the Whole 30 is finished... one week to go!

My Last Day and Whole 30 Day 16 and 17

Today is my last day of work at my current job and I am filled with mixed emotions - I have been working here for 3 1/2 years and made some great friends and will miss them a lot, but I know this is the right move for me so I am also excited for my new opportunity!

On the Whole 30 front - still staying strong... and got pics of my meals yesterday:

eggs, ham, and onions with a side of fruit

 

 

deer chili for lunch

 

deer spaghetti with spaghetti squash for dinner

 



 

this morning I had eggs and a banana

 

and we went to a hibachi grill for lunch so I had chicken, shrimp, and double veggies no rice

 

 



 

I am getting stronger - I was able to sit by people eating the rice and not salivate over it! Although I was a bit frustrated when I got on the scale and its not moving anymore... I am hoping thats from the sodium from eating out this past weekend, but I don't know... we are going to visit the hubs dad this weekend and we are supposedly eating at home most of the weekend so Monday's weigh in will tell all. I am glad I have measurements too - but I am hoping I am not eating too FEW calories - yesterday and the day before I had two tablespoons of natural PB as a late night snack to up my calories for the day - I need to get some more pecans because I am technically not supposed to have PB, but I was tired of only hitting 1000 cals/day - so I got closer to 1400 both those days!

 

I need to add more veggies too - but its hard while eating out because I don't want them coated in butter! And salads are boring without dressing! 

Whole 30- Over the Half Way Hump

For the first time since I started this challenge, yesterday I was actually confident I will FINISH this challenge... yesterday I had my usual 3eggs with onions and some ham in there to bulk it up a bit... and lunch was beef brisket lean only with a side of fruit, I had a snack of half a Quest bar, and dinner was venison chili with frozen fruit for dessert - the only thing I actually took a pic of was the chili... we put chunks of steak in addition to the ground - LOVE IT!

 

 

 

I am the one who starts challenges with good intentions and then flubs it up and throws in the towel... its what I do... but this time its different and I think there are multiple reasons for it working this time:

 

1. Our two year anniversary is April 28th - I was up 10lbs from the wedding and this year had I changed nothing I would have been up another 10lbs from last year - I CANNOT keep gaining 10lbs a year! So I am nipping that in the bud pronto!

 

2. We have started to talk about timing for a baby and I want to get to a healthy weight and learn how to maintain it before we do that - I want a healthy pregnancy for myself and the baby.

 

3. I turned 30 March 22nd and I want my 30s to be healthy and happy.

 

 

I am in the process of reading It Starts With Food its the book that goes with the Whole 30 - I am on chapter 6 and one of the things they talked about in chapter 5 is people who can eat right all day and blow it at/after dinner... its a hormone issue caused by all the crap we eat that's processed and full of sugar and non natural garbage... I have ALWAYS had trouble with dinner and after... I am hoping this plan will rid me of those issues and help me have a better and healthy relationship with food. I even talked about my issues with late night eating about a year ago here when I was frustrated that I had gained weight in our first year of marriage.

 

 

This is the year to turn it all around. I am HOPEFUL! Its going to be a great year!

Whole 30 days 10-14 and a Bachelorette Party!

Today is day 15 - half way there!

Last week was ok - had a few temptations eating out with friends, and then there was that bachelorette weekend... but we will get to that in a minute.

I did the hardest workout I have done yet on the plan and it was TOUGH, but I did it... no carbs and pushing yourself isn't easy, but its possible! I MAY have pushed it too hard because I almost passed out a few times, but I did it... 15 minutes on the bike - 6.6 miles, then 15 minutes of sprints on the treadmill, started at 8.5mph and went down to 7.5mph (20 sec on and 20 off, other than the last three minutes - that was 30/30), I didn't finish my last set of back workouts because I was DOG tired...

 

 

Friday morning I was up at 4am to catch my flight to Nola - got my black coffee

 

and even found scrambled eggs at the airport to stay on plan 100%!

 

 

After spending 3 hours of QT and catching up with my mawmaw at the nursing home I caught up with my sis... she wanted snowcones, so I got one without flavor... it was actually better than nothing at all, I didn't feel as deprived... and then boiled crawfish for lunch - DIVINE and also 100% on plan! We then laid out at the pool for a bit waiting on some of the other girls for our beach bachelorette weekend!

 

 

That night in Gulf Shores we went to Lamberts - my friends had rolls the size of your hand and I ate 100% on plan! green beans, grilled shrimp, and a baked sweet potato plain! my sister had that plate of yummy mashed potatoes and roast with gravy... and she ate my roll that they threw me... thankfully!

 

 

we then arrived at our condo for the weekend and it was adorable:

 

 

 

Saturday was spent at the beach - I cooked plain eggs for breakfast and had some fresh fruit... we skipped lunch because we were in bikinis all day - who wants to eat when you are in a bikini!?!

 

 

that night we hit up Flora Bama - after we had spaghetti squash and meat balls (100% on plan)... we had a BLAST at the bar - I had two vodka sodas and a shot of tequila (not on plan) but that's IT! I call that a WIN! A few pics from the night...

 

 

 

Sunday for breakfast we went to Waffle House - I had 3 eggs scrambled plain and watched them all eat ALL THE CARBS because most of them were hungover... the waitress did help distract me by spilling my SUPER STEAMING hot coffee all over my crotch... yea that happened... but I survived... and got my eggs free, as well as all the girls meals.... then we went shopping at the outlet mall in Foley and I got some cute stuff from Anne Taylor and New York and Company and then we grabbed lunch at Sonic - grilled chicken sandwich - just ate the chicken breast and I ordered a sweet potato tot and split it with my sister (not 100% on plan because the tots are fried, but pretty darn close if you ask me!) then we headed back to Nola... I had dinner with my mom at the Harbor and I ordered the grilled shrimp large poboy and just didn't eat the bread (100% on plan) - she got the fried shrimp poboy - I didn't even eat a single shrimp! My willpower is AMAZINGLY strong - in the past I would have caved a lot more than I did this weekend... I am PROUD of myself!

 

 

Whole 30 on the road with friends is HARD, but not IMPOSSIBLE! Which is good because I am headed to visit family this coming weekend for Easter...

 

Whole 30 Update: Days 1-9

I am going to try to update every couple days on this journey now that I am back in print here, but I wanted to give a summary of the first 9 days - today is day 10 - after today I am a third of the way done... and I have to say, its HARD to hit my normal calorie goal of 1600 calories - on the Whole 30 you are NOT supposed to log your food/calories, but I am a creature of habit AND when I do this again I will want ideas from what I ate this time, so I am tracking it on MFP - user name is LSUsweetiepie84 if you want to see all the details. I also post a lot of my meal pics on my IG account same username as MFP. I am usually around 1200-1000 calories a day - the first week of this I only worked out the first day, then I took a week off because of pulling my back last Monday at the gym - this week I have been back twice and its been TOUGH without carbs - I am hoping my body adjusts... but in the meantime I am sucking it up!

Here is a little taste of what I have been eating - eggs is the easiest and best option for breakfast... this was egg beaters egg substitute - first and the last time I had it for this challenge, switched to whole eggs and they taste so much better!

I wasn't very prepared for day one so I had an apple, tuna and pickles, and some green goddess juice for lunch.

 

Dinner was ground venison on top of a baked sweet potato, I was starving but once I ate this I was full.

 

Day 2 was hard because I had to travel for work... so I got up early before my flight and made real eggs with leftover venison steak chopped up in it:

 

then once I got to the airport I got some travel supplies - TECHNICALLY the almond pecan crunch had some organic sugar which isn't supposed to be allowed, but if I didn't have it I would have starved on the road - we weren't in control of the meals, so I was at the mercy of the lady cooking.. and I bought a magazine I subscribe too, but I forgot - its only my second month... oh well!

 

 

dinner on the ranch the first night was a nightmare, but I survived and didn't eat any bread or yummy looking dessert - however I did eat a white twice baked potato - but that's all I ate off plan!

 

breakfast on the ranch the first morning was perfection!

 

this was our lunch... I pulled the turkey and lettuce off the croissant and cheese and just watched them - this is why I needed the nuts to stay full!

 

 

once I got back home after two days away I was so glad to be in control of cooking again I roasted sweet potato wedges (note: this is my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes) and had some ground venison leftovers with it

 

 

my go to "dessert" when the hubs is eating girl scout cookies or ice cream bars is frozen fruit - it has kept me sane!

 

 

I had a class one day last week and had to peel the chicken skin off and eat the breast and ignore the noodles and sauce and eat the carrots and grean beans - SO glad I had an apple too and then they plopped a piece of chocolate cake in front of me AFTER I said no thank you - but I didn't eat it! It looked amazing but I held strong!

 

my first weekend breakfast I tried Emmy's whole 30-ified paleo oatmeal, but I have to say I was not a fan - I may try it again, but it didn't work for me... so I only ate about 1/3 of it...

 

 

we were getting tired of venison every night so we grilled up some shrimp the other night and it was amazing! most nights with dinner I need a sweet potato (or a half) because I am starving - but it usually does the trick and fills me right up!

 

we tried a date night at salata, but without the ranch, black beans, and pita chips it wasn't very fun for me... I only ate about half the salad...

 

I had eggs with ham and onion yesterday for breakfast and it was amazing!

 

 

 I have also been eating a lot of spaghetti squash - tricks your mind into thinking you are eating carbs, but you aren't! LOVE that!

My food journal from yesterday... I have been as low as around 950 cals and as high as 1400 cals, but I am usually right around here...

 

 

I also did another no no and weighed myself after one week - I am down 4 lbs in one week! I weigh myself weekly - I cant go 30 days without doing it!

It has definitely been hard some days - but I think my biggest challenge will be this weekend at a friends bachelorette party at the beach!