Whole 30

Hey friends!  How are you?
Life here is good.  I've been keeping busy, but recently we've embarked on kind of a new adventure. Awhile ago I read a little bit about the book "It Starts With Food" on my friend Katie's blog, and then I kept seeing articles randomly about this book, and decided I needed to see what all the hype was about.  For those of you who aren't aware of the book, it discusses how the body functions and uses and/or doesn't need certain foods.  (Added sugar for example...we don't really NEED it.  Sure, I like it, but...yeah, you know where this is going!)  It really said much of what I knew from my schooling, but it's nice to hear it again.  The book outlines 30 days of eating, which can lead to changing your eating habits forever.  It truly is fascinating.  I also kind of didn't like the book.  I didn't like that the authors were pretty much talking directly to my face.  Telling me what I needed to do to feel better.  As you know, I'm all about keeping it real on this little blog, so I'm going to be completely honest and say I felt like crap.  I was cranky.  I was self-consious about my body.  I couldn't seem to get rid of the "pouch"  where my belly is.  I found myself reaching for cookie after cookie after cookie.  I was tired by 7 each night.  I needed some major changes to my diet.  I kind of always knew it, just never thought much about it.

Ok, I'm wrapping up Day 10 of the Whole 30.  I have to say, the fact that both Kristi and Jeff agreed to do this with me makes things SOOOOOO much better.  We agreed that for 30 days we would eat only whole, natural, non-processed foods, and consume no added sugars, no grains, no dairy, no alcohol and during it all, we could have no slips, cheats or excuses!  Phew.  I was a nervous wreck!  (It's kind of like Paleo, but a SUPER strict version of Paleo.)

Making 3 meals each day from scratch (I did a lot of prep work on the weekends/evenings) is work.  I've started to realize I would eat/cook for convenience.  A pack of instant oatmeal in the mornings was fast and easy.  Cheese and crackers for lunch with a couple grapes was thoughtless.  You see what I'm saying?  It was HARD and annoying at times to have to plan and cook three times in one day!  I've certainly gotten into a better rhythm this week, and feel like things are coming together more quickly and with less effort.  I am no stellar cook by any stretch of the imagination, so we had to endure a few almost gross meals for the first two days!

My favorite thing is that we can eat most fruits.  I love fruit, and I love the fresh seasonal stuff I can get right now.  My least favorite thing is breakfast.  I'm not an egg lover, and I'm a super breakfast carb attic.  I love me some carbs.  That has been the biggest adjustment for me.  You can have a little bacon here and there, which Jeff really likes, but I've been drawn to a sweet potato, apple and cinnamon dish that was pretty easy to whip up, and tasted just as good heated up the next morning.

Alright...here's the deal.  Week one was rough.  It was honestly like a roller coaster ride.  I was happy, I was miserable, I thought I never needed another cookie, I thought I was going to steal student's lunches in the cafeteria during lunch duty to get a cupcake, I had headaches, I felt so sleepy, I slept great, I slept terrible, I was all.over.the.place. Did you get all that?  So just assume my body was going through complete shock and withdrawal from all the junk food I'd been putting in it.  Now, on Day 10, I honestly feel great.  I can tell I've shed some weight (you're not supposed to weight yourself until day 30) and my clothes are fitting better.  I have sustained energy throughout the day, and I've even been happy to stay awake past 9 pm the past 2 nights!  (that's a big deal for me!)  I sleep like a rock, and wake up before my alarm, feeling well rested.  I'm happier (most of the time, unless a foolish student gets under my skin, but I guess that happens when you're a teacher!)  I'm nicer to my husband, right Jeff?!  And I'm more patient with the girls in the evenings (which is when I used to be super cranky.)  Now...don't get me wrong.  I'm not cured.  I can NOT stop thinking about having an ice cream cone.  I want one SO BADLY.  Like in the worst possible way, but I won't do it.  Not yet anyway.  The book recommends you add dairy back in starting on Day 31 for a few days to see how it makes you feel.  And believe me, I'll be trying dairy!  I think I miss half and half in my creamer most, plain coconut milk just isn't the same!

I realize this is a total random, and all over the place type of post.  We're only a third of the way done, and we've still got some challenges ahead, like having an ice cream social at the house for Claire's friends from school, and going to a wedding in a few weeks, but I'm confident we can make it through with no issues.  I've been keeping a bit of a journal noting how I feel each day, which I think will be helpful to look back on.  I promise to keep you posted, it will just have to be in between cooking all these meals!

Oh, and we traveled to Syracuse for Memorial Day Weekend.  We had a great time, I have to get the pictures on to the computer.  We also stuck to our Whole 30 plan to a T.  (Yes!)  I also just started taking a sign-language class at the local community college for recertification points for my teaching license.  Oh goodness....I'm not sure I know what I got myself into!  This is going to be tough, but I'll just do a lot of practicing and hope it all works out!

Hope you had a great weekend!