Day 8 of 34

I have made it an entire week eating no grains, no legumes, no dairy (a little butter cooked in eggs is trace compared to my old eating habits, and NO sugar. I've had fruits and some balsamic vinegar and some of the delicious caramelized burnt stuff that leaks out of sweet potatoes. But I haven't had a candy bar, a Reese's pieces, ice cream, splenda or creamer in my coffee or a Diet Dr. Pepper in a full week!

How do I feel? Mostly good. I feel like the monkey is off my back, it's still dancing around me, but it isn't plying my lips back and inserting sweet treats, chips, cheese and all kinds of CRAP into my mouth. I can look at someone eating things I am currently not eating and not feel like I am missing something.

I am still waiting on the arrival of carb flu. I am wondering if I am in ketosis. I can't help but want to step on the scale, although I will not, I will not make one concession for this 30 days. It is more to make sure I am not gaining, because eating more fat goes against everything I know and hold dear. But the old acting class mantra comes to mind "Just trust the process."

My emotions are better than they were. I have to say that this was cycle week sans chocolate. I mean no sugar, no indulgence, no glass of wine. All who survived are very lucky.

I could very easily dive right back to my old ways of eating. But I don't want to do that. I am learning a lot about the paleo lifestyle and the science behind it. It is still confusing, but for now I don't have to adopt a new lifestyle. I am dealing with the first 30 (34) days. After that, I can make decisions about what to do moving forward.

I am still not exercising. I have a plan to train for a specific 5k. I have not committed. I will be doing some meditation on that over the next few days. I know I need to move, but yet I am resistant. Hopefully, when the sunshine returns, I will change my mind. Because I do dream of running. Yet still I sit. I'll have to work on changing my thoughts into actions.

Day 6/34

Well, I have decided to go 34 because I had some butter on Day 4. I am at peace with the decision, it is just rolling with the punches.

I am sleeping like a log. I haven't really had any horrible times with food, I just breathe through any major cravings or have something paleo.

I am starting to experience emotions very high at the moment. Some situations are arising that are bringing things up for me. I guess this is what I wanted. It would have been nice if the universe had let things be calm for just a bit while I got the hang of this eating.

Yesterday, I ate my way through the day. I can't even catalog it, but it was all whole 30 approved, even if the portions weren't. I didn't have a food hangover today, so I appreciate that factor. I also feel less bloated and sleep like a rock.

Today, I had 4 egg muffins. I am not hungry at all now, so I don't want to force myself to eat, since this is a rare occasion (not being hungry).

Whole 30 day 3 and a day 4 misstep

Well, Day 3 was better. A bit of a headache that comes and goes. Got off early from the job and took a 2 hour nap. Food for the day: B: Egg frittata muffins, strawberries, S: lara bar, L: leftover sundried chicken over salad with balsamic vinaigrette, D: filet, brussel sprouts, carrots and stuffed mushrooms, S: Almond butter with an apple.

Today I made a misstep. We went to a local breakfast place that is too slammed to ask alot of questions. I got grilled pork tenderloin and scrambled eggs (not eating the biscuits with gravy!) but the eggs were cooked with butter. Lesson learned, always ask or don't eat it, the south is a butter region, and I can extend the 30 days to 34 to gain the full benefit.

I am having a gal pal over tonight and will be having thai beef with roasted asparagus and carrots. I'll make her some jasmine rice, and for dessert we'll have strawberries and coconut milk. I feel proud of this meal and not like I'm having to give anything up while entertaining.

Some things I'm noticing: I am tired, bordering on lethargic. I am less hungry and less obsessed in my mind with food, what I'm going to eat next, etc. I know more things challenges are ahead but hope I can meet them head on.

Day 2 Whole 30

So far, so good. I am enjoying the way I am eating and not missing anything yet.

Yesterday about 5pm I did start to experience some side effects from being sugarless I suppose. Headache, nausea, and dizziness. So I ate a tablespoon of almond butter, a lara bar and went to sleep. I woke up much better and cooked up some dinner.

What I ate: Egg Fritatta Muffins, strawberries, spinach, tomatoes, leftover sundried tomato baked chicken, lara bar, almond butter, curry pork chops with apples, stuffed portabellos.

Today I need some more rest. I am going to rest, rest, rest for the next few days so that I make it through this transition as easy as possible. Hope that today, day 3, I don't feel sick again.

Caveman style - the Whole 30 Paleo Challenge

I'm doing it caveman style. Eating that is. Ok, more like Caveman2011.0 style.

I've been soul searching of late. I'm a challenge, goal oriented sort of gal. Normally, I select achievement based goals. But after being an overachiever in the last 6 years (gong back and graduating from college, getting married, buying a house, changing jobs 3 times, and completing my CMP cert), I'm sort of over that sort of challenge. And I am facing some challenges that my intellect can't really fix. Body/mind style challenges.

After 9 months of being a nonsmoker (WOOT!) I am having to get real about other things. I can no longer say that the reason I get short of breath after a flight of stairs is because I'm a smoker. And I don't feel as awesome as I want. My current physical state is holding my mind's desires back. And I cannot have that!

I've been kicking around the idea of a cleanse for months. But days of fruit juice and water only, meh, not really appealing to a foodie. I still wanted to do something that would make me feel better. And I'm done with counting calories, points, or whatever. I just want to eat, live and focus on creative things, not food, weight, guilt and shame.

So I came across the Whole9 website and a challenge. Challenge? I like challenges! And this challenge says it will change your life in 30 days. I like change! A change in how I view food? I'm game. The sugar master is on my back big time lately, and after freeing myself from the slavery of cigarette smoking, I crave freedom from that same freedom from food and sugar especially. "I am the master of my ship" plays over and over in my head. Let's get real though, my ship is mastered by sugar. So I have decided to rebel, be slave no more.

So I have decided to fore go some things for 30 days. Sugar (real and fake), legumes, grains and pastas, dairy, alcohol, and white potatoes. I have consumed more of these items than my ancestors did in the whole of their lives. This won't kill me.

I am eating lean meats, fish, eggs, tons of vegetables, fruit, and good fats. I think that good fats will be the biggest mind shift for me. Day 1 was good. I woke up early and scrambled 2 eggs and had sliced tomato, black coffee didn't taste that bad. My lunch was a salad with balsamic vinegar, topped with roasted chicken, skin removed. Dinner was delish, sundried tomato chicken bake with roasted brussel sprouts and sauteed spinach and mushrooms.

I made egg frittata muffins with tomatoes, spinach, basil and thyme for breakfast and had a few strawberries. I have leftover chicken and spinach for lunch.

I KNOW this process will get harder. Like quitting smoking, I expect a small meltdown some time between day 5 and 14. Like smoking, I plan to breather through it. Or write about it. I have named the sugar master the Jabberwocky. I shall heed the warning and stay the path.

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!