Sick therefore I blog...

Tomorrow is October 1st and another MnP Challenge is about to kick off. I am not officially doing the fall challenge but the first of the month always seems like a good time for me to reset and decide what I am going to change up. I typically pin new recipes and commit to getting out of my "usual" routine with food as well as fitness. I have some new workouts I want to try and so forth.

 

 

This Whole 30/ Paleo has really become a lifestyle for me. For the most part if I cook I follow the a Whole 30/ Paleo diet. I don't add any sugar and buy ingredients with only natural sugars, etc. If I go out to eat I order the cleanest item possible on the menu. Typically a salad with a protein and oil/ vinegar dressing. Sometimes a protein and a vege. Depends on the restaurant.

 

 

Some people still question how it can be done and how it can be "followed" indefinitely. But, once you start to cook and eat whole food you don't feel like you are restricting yourself. Yes, at times it requires planning because most "fast" foods and snacks are not compliant but grabbing an apple is easy and so is a handful of nuts, sunflower seeds, etc. You just have to make different choices when you grocery shop.

 

 

Ok... so my blog today is as a result of how SICK I feel right now and my desire to document it. As a said, I am not going to do the challenge officially but I am going to reset Oct 1st. Meaning, getting back to being more careful with my labels, cutting the soy from my coffee which is a cheat, being more careful when I order at restaurants, etc. So, today I decided that I was going to order one of my favorite salads from Wildflour which has an incredible balsamic dressing (non compliant). It also comes with a freshly baked side of bread. Normally bread is no trouble. Honestly, I never ever ever thought that I would say that but it's true. What I miss most at times is the cheese off of a pizza or chips/ salsa but when there is a loaf of bread at the table it does nothing for me. (And if I were going to eat bread it would be a sourdough grilled cheese).. Back to my story, so normally I would eat the salad even with the dressing because if that's the worst thing I eat from time to time it's not going to kill me. I've also noticed that I continue to lose weight & feel good even though I made modifications. Well, today when I pulled the salad out of the bag the bread was on top. I could feel the warm freshly baked loaf wrapped in foil. I thought, what the heck. Tomorrow is reset. I can't remember the last time I had a few bites of bread. I honestly can't. As I enjoyed my salad I ripped off a couple bites of bread and popped them in my mouth. At first it tasted a little strange. I could actually taste the yeast or something. I don't know. I am not a baker but I could taste the bitterness of the bread and the salt in it. Once I got passed all that it was tasty so I ripped off two more pieces and enjoyed those. (And by pieces I mean bite size amounts not an entire slice) I finished my salad and got back to knocking out some emails. But it wasn't long before I felt like I was going to be sick. It was the strangest feeling. My stomach felt awful. Instantly. Call me crazy but I think it was from the bread. I think my system has been so use to processing different food that this was like the equivalent of what people feel when they are lactose intolerant or can't tolerate spicy food.

 

 

It's hard to explain how good you feel and how well you sleep when you clean up your diet and drink lots of water. That is why I don't feel like I am cheating myself on anything. Reset helps me think outside the box when it comes to planning my meals because there are so many delicious things I can eat but I get stuck making the same handful of stuff. The only way I can explain when you cheat is that you do get a hangover type of feeling. For me, it's usually my stomach that bothers me the most and sometimes I get a headache. If my body is reacting that way then there's something to be said for that.

 

 

It's just like the first 4-5 days of the challenge. I thought my head was going to explode day 3. Now that I look back I think how amazing that your body is so addicted to things you don't realize you are "addicted" to and how toxic many of those things are hence why you feel detox symptoms.

 

 

The body knows what it needs to do to heal itself... The challenge is to silence the mind.

 

 

Here's to Oct 1st!

Why Blog?

Why blog?

 

I’m bacccck. I am crazy busy at work and crazy busy with the boys but I am back to give a quick update because I am truly overwhelmed by all your texts, emails, private messages, etc. Outside of the random comments here and there I didn’t realize that so many of you were actually following. But, more importantly I had NO idea that a handful of you are deeply interested and want me to share more about the how’s and the why’s of my new norm.

(So for those that are sick of my food posts... They are not for you...wink wink)

 

First, a little background for those that are jumping in.... I started a challenge April 1^st 2014 which was based on a paleo / Whole 30 diet. Sometime mid May I started to modify by slowly adding things back in my diet. However to be honest I really didn’t add much in except  adding in social drinking. I did have a few skinny margaritas this summer but for the most part my alcohol intake came primarily from wine or vodka and it’s basically just on the weekends here and there. Bread, grains, dairy, pastas, etc are still out. As hard as it may be to believe it’s not hard. I do not miss many foods that were a part of my regular diet. I feel sooooo much better and more than anything I feel like I am doing the best I can to be healthy and keep healthy foods in my kitchen. It’s all about planning and having the right foods on hand.

 

I don’t want this to be a long entry so I just have 2 main points I want to jump to.

 

1.       A couple of weeks ago I embarked on my summer vacation to the beach. I’ve been fortunate this year to have gone to Miami / South Beach a couple of time as well as Atlantis. All of those trips were before April. While I was working out consistently with a trainer and eating what I thought was really well I never felt GREAT in my clothes. I was really disappointed when I went to Atlantis and put on shorts from last summer only to find that they were snug and my tank tops hugged my stomach. I packed a ton of stuff for my trips but then I would go through several outfits at the hotel trying to decide what to wear and I never felt “great”.
      
       Well, this beach trip in July was the first time that EVERY SINGLE NIGHT I felt 100% comfortable in my clothes. But, before I discuss weight loss or anything like that I have to stress that it goes wayyyyy beyond that. Yes, I have lost weight. How much? I don’t know because I don’t step on a scale. Probably about 2 pant sizes. But, I felt great. I have energy. I just feel good in my skin. Maybe some of that comes with age. I don’t know, but I feel better than ever. Everything I put on seemed to hang right. Fit well. I felt good. That hasn’t happened since … maybe college.

      Also I worked out every single day. I use to pack workout clothes and they never came out of my suitcase. Now, getting a good sweat everyday is a huge priority. Again, it's not about the weight loss. But, about doing something for myself. About pushing my body and being grateful that I get up every day and do what I choose to do.

2.       This is the most important part of this blog. I brought my niece and nephew to the beach. I didn’t want to be a food Nazi  on our vacation so I was sure to pack our condo with a good mix of fruits/ vegetables and chips, crackers, cheese,  snacks, etc. However, on the 5+ hour to the beach I popped in a couple of Nexflix that discuss some of the principals that I try to incorporate and speak to WHY you should be reading labels and how BAD most of the ready to eat/ processed food is for you. They were really into the videos.  On the last day when we were packing up I could not help but notice that all the chips, cereals, and breads that I bought were not even touched. 3 containers of Pringles and 1 bag of Doritos were still sealed shut. Those were all the chips I purchased and NOT ONE TIME did the kids rip into them at the beach or at the condo while watching TV. Instead all the fruit was gone. The garbage was full of wrappers that had contained nuts, orange peels, banana peels, empty boxes of raisins, etc. I never said a WORD about the chips but for one reason or another the kids just reached for other foods. They did not eat totally clean all the time but they ate WAYYYY better than what I would have imagined and a total 180 from last year. So, the bottom line is that if help your kids understand why you are making certain choices and if you make good food options easy and available to them it is possible to change their eating habits.

I have lots more to say on this topic but this is enough for now.

My hope is that some of you can relate to the information I shared and realize that you are not alone in your journey... what ever that is.

 

Love yourself. Be comfortable in your skin. Educate yourself and be open to changing your habits. The food we eat today is not like the food we ate 10, 15, 20 years ago. Baby steps…..

Results are IN!

Oh my gosh. .... I can't believe I did not update sooner. Life has gotten in the way. All is good but busy. Major projects kicking off at work, LAX tournament, end of the year stuff, etc etc.

Well.... I WON!!!

Not only did I stick it out for the 30 day challenge but I WON!!!! Scores were based on a point system. A few of us tied for first place so we had to submit before and after pictures. I was chosen as the winner. I didn't think I would win because since I am 5'9 and a half I can lose and gain 10 lbs and maybe my jeans are the only ones that notice. Since I am tall, I can hide it. I know some of the other people lost up to 15lbs so I was worried that my after pics may not look as drastic but apparently they were good enough. By the end of the 30 days I could see a major change in the way my clothes fit. I had some measurements that I took a few weeks before the challenge and based on those I lost several inches, mainly in the mid section. So, as a recap I lost about 10lbs.

I am 15 days post challenge and I have stuck with it. I did have a glass of wine my first weekend off the challenge but I haven't eaten ANY non compliant foods. None. I really want to stay Whole 30 through the month of May and into June. This really is a lifestyle for me so I just have to figure out how to incorporate somethings in my diet with out losing the "benefits". I feel really good. I've had great workouts and I am sleeping like a rock.

Thank you to ALL that have been following my blog and especially those that have sent such nice words of encouragement via Facebook, text, etc. I am so happy so many of you have been asking me questions and "thinking" about trying Whole 30/ Paleo.

Oh... before I sign off ...

Two movies I can't wait to see...

Fed Up and Forks Over Knives... as well as Hungry for Change. I really believe that sticking to this type of "diet" is much easier when you become disgusted by what is allowed to be done to our "food".

I will blog from time to time so please check back.

Also, follow me on Pinterest for more pics, motivation, recipes, etc. VivInATL



V.

Excuses, Excuses (Day 29)

Warning if you are easily offended, you may want to skip this entry but if you can read something and decide (honestly) if anything applies to you and use the information to either reinforce or change a behavior then this just may be the blog entry you need to read.

For those that don't know me personally I think it's important to disclose that everything I am about to share is my true experience. It's not me judging or pointing fingers. It's based on MY past decisions and my choices. Your story may be different but if you see yourself in any of this I hope it helps.

Growing up:
I'll be honest. I was tall and somewhat thin when I was younger but I was not athletic ... at all. I played softball but I never made All-stars. I was always the last one picked in middle school and high school for team PE sports probably because my lack of coordination and stamina. I was a quitter when it came to running far or really exerting myself. I had zero athleticism. Though I was tall and thin I never had "abs". Once I got a bit older I started to curve out. No boobs but my legs, butt, and thighs was typically where I carried my weight. I was never "fat" but I always felt big because I was so tall. Back then being Puerto Rican and having "curves" was not "accepted" or embraced as it is today. So, I desperately tried to fit in by hiding what I thought was my worst features. Back then there really wasn't a ton of information on diet/ exercise so I just did what I thought would work which was probably all over the board.

Fast forward, when I decided to do this challenge it was because first and foremost I was sick and tired of all the working out that I was doing (trainers, bootcamps, etc) and not really seeing a major difference in my clothes. Not to mention the scale seemed to be going in the opposite direction. I know diet is more important than exercise when it comes to changing your body and I felt like I was restricting my carbs somewhat and eating pretty clean for the most part but I wasn't doing anything radical. I started to worry that my weight, especially around my mid section was spiraling out of control after hitting 40 in October so I felt that doing a challenge that would hold me accountable to eating COMPLETELY CLEAN while detoxing my body and stepping up my work outs would either be the best thing ever or reinforce that I am doomed.

I won't make you wait until the end. At Day 29 I am teary eyed as I write this because it's been the best thing ever. More than anything it's shown me that all those motivational quotes that we read, post, and think sound nice ... do have some truth. If you commit to something and really put your mind to something, you will amaze yourself. Let me pause and say one thing.... For me Statistics was hard, parenting at times can be hard, following a Whole 30 / Paleo style diet to put things in perspective is not hard. It requires effort. But, it's NOT HARD. But, you do have to make up your mind to commit to it an prepare. You have to have the right foods available and the discipline to stay on track despite temptations.

This is the part I really want you to pay attention to....

A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD STARTED TODAY. There is a quote for you. And it's 100% true.

When I am at the gym and I look around and see girls/ women of all ages I feel like I am in the best shape of my life and I can KICK MYSELF for not caring about my body more in my 20's and 30's. I know I looked OK, but I never felt GREAT about my body. Then I started to have kids and I had a whole list of new excuses of why I could not make it to the gym. In my 20's the gym wasn't that important. I went because my husband went but just like I did throughout middle school and high school I put in little effort. I walked on the treadmill, lifted a few weights, and when he was done and ready to go I was as well. I am sure I barely broke a sweat. The gym was not my thing. Back then I could skip a few meals and drop 5 pounds like it was no big deal.You probably have heard people say.. just wait until you turn 30 or 40 it's not as easy... BELIEVE THEM.Your body doesn't just shed weight like that as you get older.

 When the kids came along I was selling Real Estate and felt that to be a top producer I had to be at my client's beck and call while juggling 2 kids. So, I didn't plan property and found lots of reasons not to do the things I needed to do for me. Now, looking back I can say those were TERRIBLE excuses. Being self employed is demanding but you can set your schedule and I could have gotten my butt out of bed at 5am to go to the gym like I have done in the last couple of years because no one is looking at houses at 5am. I could have left the kids at home in their beds sleeping with their dad and gotten my workouts in. I could have spent more time making good meals for all of us rather than just quick and easy stuff full of processed ingredients. I could have limited my summer time wine consumption and not lived as though I was on vacation every night with a cocktail in hand while I made dinner.  Here's a dose of honestly. IT DOES NOT GET EASIER. My kids are older now. I thought it was "hard" when they were little and "needed me". Well, it's equally as hard now. It's a different type of hard. They are active in sports, they are older and have more commitments at school as well as social so if you are waiting for your kids to get older or to get to another stage or phase well that's just an excuse. You have to MAKE TIME for YOURSELF because no one is going to give it to you. You need to ask for help if you need it. You need to carve time out. That could mean getting up earlier, working out while they are at practice, dance class, whatever. Cutting out meaningless things and spending more time seeking out better meals for yourself, planning, buying what you need, and making them. You have to find your own rhythm. What works for other people may not work for you but you need to find something that does. Otherwise, you will keep doing what you are doing and nothing will change. If you have time to sit on Facebook, play video games, read, watch movies, then you have time to find a way to make room for what you deem to be important. For me, I work full time. I have to be in an office every day and out visiting clients. Most days before I leave I have to get my kids off to school. So, working out in the morning is a last resort. I do it on the days I know I can't fit it in at lunch or after work. My typical routine is to work out after work. Fortunately my youngest loves to play basketball at the kids club so he loves to go to the gym with me. But, when I get home there is a lot of juggling to get dinner ready and homework, etc. But, we do it. It works and I just shift things around on practice nights. Sometimes that means I run the track around the field while I am waiting for them to finish. I do make quick meals on weeknights but they are usually pretty good. Lots of chicken, fish, veges, etc. Both my kids love salads so I have no trouble there. If we have to go to fast food it's usually Jason's Deli, Chipolte, or Zabys. My kids won't step foot in McDonalds and if they go there with a friend they won't eat. It's not because I have told them not to. It's because I share information with them so that they understand why we make certain choices and they think Mc Donalds meat is real meat. When I saw the picture of a 180 day old burger that looked like it had just been cooked or figured out how they make chicken nuggets that took away any craving for that food. It's not even a temptation. My kids even get disgusted when they see people eating that. I am sure it's similar to people that think sushi is gross. I can pop sushi in my mouth like it's candy but to others it's not something they would consider. Same feeling.

Which brings me to what has kept me on track.... I really feel that there is a link to all these crazy diseases and cancers that we are CONSTANTLY reading about. As a child I do not remember hearing of my parent's friends or much less kids having cancer. Now it seems like all I read on Facebook or on the internet so many people and kids are fighting some form of cancer. It's crazy that in other countries the foods we eat and can purchase are banned. So, honestly a big part of why some of this has been easy is because when I see certain things like donuts, pastries, or other processes foods something in my head just thinks "TOXIC". It' the same as when I see someone smoking a cigarette. I think "nasty". So, it's not hard for me to say no to certain things, but I think YOU HAVE TO GET THERE. And if you read or watch videos about why we crave the things we do and how sugar / artificial sugar work in the body/ brain you may come to the same conclusion. I am going to work hard over the next several months to flip my pantry. It's pretty empty now. There's a lot of things I just don't buy. Here's that dose of honestly again. IF YOU DON'T BUY IT and BRING IT INTO YOUR HOUSE then neither YOU or your CHILDREN can eat it. I've cut off all Crystal Light, most red drinks or food containing dyes, white pasta, most snacks, the list goes on and on. My kids have no choice but to snack on leftovers, fruit, etc if there isn't a container of Pringles they can reach for or a pouch of gummy fruit that isn't fruit. It's just plastic with dye. Once you start to look at it like that it's easy not to want to buy it so that your kids will ingest it.

I am getting off track. The bottom line is this... Until YOU get to the point you want to change up your routine or your eating habits nothing anyone says, does, tells you is really going to change your behavior. It will most likely annoy you. You have to get to the point where you are tried of the way you feel, or tired of the way you look, or tired of the ways your clothes fit. Whatever YOUR reason is it has to come from YOU. Once you get to that point that almost borders fear you will decide to do something. All I can say is don't half commit to anything. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars on trainers, $170/mo bootcamps, etc and saw very little change. I did get stronger but I was still tired and my body didn't change the way I wanted it to. I got sick and tired of my pants feeling so snug and not feeling great in my clothes. I believe 100% in Whole30 but YOU CAN NOT CHEAT. I am going to attach a link at the bottom of this that says it better than I can. But, I promise you if you commit and get through the first 2 weeks you will ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner. You do have to educate yourself first on what you can / can not have but once you embrace the WHY it's not hard. I spent the first couple of weeks doing things very simple so I didn't mess up but now I have been trying new recipes and changing things up. It's no harder than making meals for your family that aren't compliant. It's about having the right ingredients. If you can make your family lasagnas or enchiladas, you can make Whole 30/ Paleo dishes. You have to have the right snacks on hand to be successful too. But, only YOU can get in the mindset.

For me, this experience was life changing. I feel AMAZING. I have a TON of energy. I am not starving. I sleep like a baby. I've had great workouts. My cravings are few and far between. My body is transforming and I think I may have abs for the first time ever in my life sometime this year. (Stay tuned). Although the challenge ends May 1st, I am not turning back. I may have a cheat meal or modification of something, but I feel too good to mess up my progress. I have followed through. I am more fit than ever. I have more discipline and self control then I ever knew I had. I believe I am capable of whatever I set my mind on. Again, this is not hard. Life is going to go on. The time is never going to be just right. You have to decide HOW you spend your time. If I can work full time, chase after 2 growing kids, feed my relationships, etc etc etc  and find time to succeed at this so can you.

Stepping off my soapbox now.

Here's that link: http://www.refinery29.com/2014/04/67019/whole30-diet 

Your comments are welcome.

V

Home stretch! Day 23

Week 4 (last week) + PMS ... I deserve a medal for this... LOL... Sorry, TMI.

I am excited for this final week of the challenge and hope to make every bite and every sit up count. =D I've been consistent about the gym with only 1 rest day each week. I have mixed it up by doing cardio, weights, previous bootcamp routines, as well as some of the workouts posted on our challenge website. Pandora has been my friend and one thing I have done is switched up my stations too. However, I will admit that 80's cardio and 80's dance are two of my favorites and those are totally new on my playlist. I use to listed to more rap/top40 or instrumental stuff before. But, now I am totally changing it up and I've noticed a difference in my workouts.

I have been thinking more and more about what my new norm will be. I feel sooooo good and I have soooo much energy that I don't want to go back to eating the usual stuff but I also want to be able to make it a lifestyle. I am thinking more about my pantry and how I am going to get the kids on board with more paleo type meals. They eat very well but their snacks are usually easy "to go" processed snacks and I need to do a better job of changing that.

Tonight after I came home from work, I hit the gym, and got a burst of energy to do food prep. I always feel so much better when I have food ready to go in the fridge. One thing about this is that I am not eating typical breakfast foods. I have eggs sometimes but some days I eat all sorts of other proteins for breakfast. Kinda weird but it's like I am just eating to fuel my body because I know I need to. Not because I am starving or want a bagel or a donut. Now, the food doesn't taste bad and most of it I quite enjoy but it's just a little different. Below is I prepped tonight. I made Kale Chips for my first time. OH MY GOSH. They are DELISH!!!! DELISH. And so easy. I also made spaghetti squash, and some Brussels sprouts. I will have enough for a few more meals.

 

 

 

Well, I gotta go get my sleep in. That's soooo important. Day 23!!! 7 to go....

V.





Happy Easter! Day 20

Just 10 short days to go!

It was another busy weekend and since I am posting on my iPad and haven't downloaded the google app I won't be able to post pics... Again. I have so many. So I will *try* and do it soon.

I've discovered that I enjoy decaf with coconut milk. This is exciting because even though I miss my Starbucks more than almost anything the thought of going back to artificial sugar is just not an option. This challenge has become less about changing my body and more about realizing how all that crap (processed foods, sugar, grains, gluten, etc.) impacts ...everything. I honestly feel like I have so much more energy. I use to hit snooze 1-2 times in the morning. Now I've been popping up feeling completely recharged and not drowsy or anything. It's crazy. I've also been sleeping like a rock. I have some crazy dreams but I sleep great. I also feel like I am not as cranky and I have a lot more patience with my kids. I haven't been hungry at all between meals. When I fix my kids' plates I am not tempted to take a bite of anything they are eating. This I find unbelievable. It really is true that by not eating sugar you don't crave it. Problems with many diets is that it's sneaky. So many foods have it so even if you think you are abstaining, you may not be. Reading labels is routine and I also stick with many of the same foods for ease. I really wish I could shout it from the rooftops how life changing eating this way is but I know that I use to read "this stuff" and think ... Ya ok. Then come up with excuses or exceptions. But you can't cheat for this to work and if you don't cheat you will see that it's not hard to stay on track and your body will change. Not just physically but mentally too.

Well, today was Easter and I was able to stay compliant at brunch. Great salad selections, eggs, veges, chicken cooked in olive oil, and some pork with just a simple spice marinade.

I have to get an early workout in tomorrow because I have an HOA meeting afterwork so off to bed I go.

I promise pics are coming soon!

V


Clean Easter Brunch
2 salads, eggs with tomatoes, chicken cooked in lemon, garlic, & olive oil, pulled pork with simple spice marinade
Get. in. the. belly

Day 15 :: Half way there!

I have a ton of pictures to post but life is getting in the way of my blogging. I'll start with... I have not had a single cheat bite. NOT ONE! I have not licked a single spoon, taken a bite of my kids' food, taken a sip of a non compliant drink... NOTHING. And to be honest, my cravings are NOT bad at all. I am a TOTAL believer after this experience that if you don't have something in your system you don't really crave it. I PROMISE it's true. I am not grazing all the time like I was the first week either and I am not starving.

The next 2 weeks are going to be a challenge because I now have to cut all fruit so, bye bye LaraBars. An apple or banana here and there really helped to take the edge off. In the mornings I would sometimes have a blueberry/ strawberry/ banana smoothie and those days are over. However, I am excited to see what my body does in these last 2 weeks.

For those of you wondering... YES. I can see a difference. I will admit that when I took my week 2 picture (at day 8) I was a little disappointed that I didn't see a HUGE difference even though I felt like my clothes weren't as snug. But, now I can really see some change. In the grand scheme of things 15 days is not a long time.

I have to run because I have a ton of stuff to get done today, but I promise a detailed blog later this week.

V.

...Typical Day

Today was a typical day and despite a crazy work day, client meetings, and an unexpected visit from my BFF I stayed on track. I tend to work best under pressure. I can be a bit of a procrastinator at times but I always make sure that I do what I need to do. I knew that I had meetings and with my friend coming into town I had a 2 hour window to get my workout in after work so I packed up my bags and took everything I needed to work so I could hit the gym right after.

I'm beat so here are the pics....

Some people worry about eating out and staying true to "a diet" but I think you can order off a menu by keeping it basic and avoiding sauces. Also making selections that can have non compliant items such as cheese, dressing, carbs, etc removed easily. I am not a picky eater so I tend to feel bad for asking for modifications, but I usually find something easy to work with on any menu.

Here's lunch:

Fresh WILD salmon on organic greens. Oil/ vinegar dressing. It was delish!!!

 

Post work Gym Time

Mixed it up with TRX

 Work clothes, gym clothes, casual clothes for dinner... check, check, check. (No excuses)

 

 

 

And dinner...

Steamed WILD Salmon over steamed veges. It was YUM-o. I typically wouldn't eat fish twice in one day but I met my BFF at a seafood place for dinner and this dish looked like one of the safest bets. All I had to do is ask them to hold the sauce they would typically saute the veges in.

 

 

This challenge is for 30 days but it helps me to take it one day and one week at a time. I am so busy that if I try to wrap my head around everything that needs to happen for 30 days it would be overwhelming. So knowing what I need to prep for today and the next day is manageable. I hope to do some meal preps this Sunday but if it doesn't happen I know I can make good choices day by day.

 

V.



 

Day 7 ... I'm not even hungry, I just want to sleep

It's strange because over the last couple of days I haven't really felt "starving" no major cravings except I would LOVE a piece of gum. So crazy that out of all the things I am not consuming that is the one thing I want. I envision myself at the end of the 30 days reaching out for a piece of Orbit. lol

I've been sleeping great. But, sleep usually isn't a problem for me. I will note that every night I am having very vivid and random dreams. It's not common for me to dream night after night so I don't know if that's a side effect of all this clean eating. (wink wink)

I haven't addressed workouts... I got them all in last week and gave myself the required rest day. Some days I felt I was dragging myself to the gym but that's not uncommon. I go after a full day of work. However, once I get my warm up done (quarter mile run on the treadmill) I put in the work. I have been making sure that I switch things up and really push myself. Not the same old workouts. I have been incorporating more TRX, core, wall balls, machines, etc etc etc. I have been sore all week. That IS uncommon for me. I am getting better about thinking about what I am going to do before I get to the gym so that I have everything I need and I feel like I got a complete workout, just like when I do bootcamp. I have several of my bootcamp routines on my phone so that helps for easy reference.

That's all I got for now. I could use a serious power nap. I hope this phase passes quickly. Based on the Whole30 timeline this is totally normal and I am right on track.

V.

PS. I got a PERFECT score last week on my points sheet. NOT ONE SINGLE cheat bite, no missed workouts, no fence foods, no caffeine, enough sleep, and water. I am beginning to believe those random motivational pictures ARE true. Mind over matter....

...Road Trip

This is going to be quick because I.can.not.wait to get under the covers and pin aimlessly until I fall asleep. This --> girl is pooped. It was a busy weekend since I decided to mix in a road trip to North Carolina and take the boys to the Great Wolf Lodge. Before setting out on our adventure I grabbed a few more things from the grocery store because I know preparation is the key. Now, I am not going to eat prepped meals on my "mini vacation" (I know some people do) but I want to look forward to eating out and I know I can order "safely" from a menu. However, road snacks and hotel room snacks are a must.

<<-- Here is a pic of what I packed up. I was so excited for find LaraBars. I found out they are totally approved and all the ingredients are WHOLE FOODS. Now, I can't have every flavor because some contain things I can't have during the 30 day challenge but I grabbed 4 that I could have. I am happy to report they were YUMMY and they totally take the edge off.





Ok... I said this was going to be quick and it's getting long. The quick version is that I wasn't starving. Having the right things to grab is key and I had a great time at lunch/dinner with out feeling like I was depriving myself. Part of the thing with food is that we wrap so much routine into it as well as the social aspect. But, this challenge is helping me break out of routine and think about when, what, and why I am eating. Also, just because I am embracing Whole 30 doesn't mean I can't enjoy eating out.

 So, below are my two meals. Lunch at Jim 'N Nicks BBQ. Chopped salad with smoked chicken, tomatoes, olives, and onions. Totally clean and approved. I munched on my snacks on the way up to NC and felt totally satisfied. Once we got to Great Wolf I was busy at the water park. I drank tons of water and even managed to squeeze in a workout at their fitness center. (Go ME!) There have been LOTS of trips where I pack workout clothes and they never make it out of the suitcase. Not this time. Ok, so dinner was clean again. We went to a steakhouse and I got a Fillet with NO sauce just salt & pepper, sweet potato, and steamed broccoli. It also came with a side salad and just like with lunch I just used oil/ vinegar for the dressing. Believe it or not I couldn't even finish it all. I only had a few bites of the sweet potato and about half the broccoli. I did not have ONE SINGLE cheat bite, sip, nothing all weekend. I know this may sound crazy but I am not as hungry as I thought it was and maybe once your body doesn't have carbs you are not craving them. However, the fruit and the LaraBars did help.









Lunch



Dinner

 

The new norm

Oh, I did try to order a decaf black coffee at Starbucks for the ride home, but after two sips I dumped it. I would rather drink water than black coffee. Now I know. So my new Starbucks norm...

Time to hit the hay. I am super sore from my workouts and the only thing I am really struggling with... well, there are two things... 1. I am still tired. I wake up feeling great but I hit a bit of a wall in the afternoon. Hoping this passes soon. 2. I would still LOVE a piece of gum!!!

 

 

Here's to Day 6 and I haven't cheated once.

 

V.

The calm before the storm?

Dare I say it? It's Day 4 and I feel pretty good. I woke up this morning (sore from a killer workout) but feeling rested and no real cravings. I wasn't excited about the food options I could have for breakfast but I wasn't longing for my usual half of an English muffin and egg. I was perfectly fine whipping up a strawberry, blueberry, and banana smoothie. It was in water no other fillers of any kind. Natural sugar loaded but fruit is ok this week so that's what I had.

I breezed through the morning feeling pretty satisfied with my almonds and apple and had a salad for lunch. I am still not super hungry and it's almost 5 pm. I was also not even tempted when donuts were brought in the office this morning and cake this afternoon. I felt like there was no way I was going to blow it for a bite of that. I ate some carrots and a few more almonds.

I did start to get tired around lunch but I am feeling better now. I am headed to the gym after work and I have tilapia ready for dinner. I think you also have to wrap your head around all the food+social situations and find a new balance. Heading into the weekend this is going to take some navigating.


Oh... the one thing I would LOVE is a piece of gum. My dentist is going to kill me but I think I am going to start to chew on ice.


Happy Friday!!!
V.

It takes a village

I admit, years ago when my BFF got on a running kick which turned into 5ks, 10ks, marathons, and finally a triathlon I was right there with several others that would roll their eyes every time There was a running related facebook post or check in at a gym, track, race, etc. I didn't get it.

It wasn't until I started to seek out information on fitness and nutrition did I realize that motivation and accountability comes in many ways. For people that have chosen to challenge themselves it's satisfying to post information they found to be helpful or pictures of their progress. When you commit so something and begin to see results whether it's improved time, lower cholesterol, wieght loss, whatever it may be it's gratifying to share that information.  However, until you have done it and have experienced people supporting you or thankful for sharing information with them you won't get it. And you too may continue to roll your eyes, judge, and be bothered by these types of rants. And that is ok. I am ok with that. I am most successful when I am doing bootcamps or when I put a goal out there to the universe. Accountability is important (to me) and by talking about what I am doing in person or via social media is another way to keep myself on track. I find many others are just trying to do the same thing.

I love that this challenge pairs you up with a partner and that there is a group facebook page where people share tips, recipes, and what they are going through. I especially love to see progress pictures or before/ after.

Paleo / Whole 30  can be tricky and I am thankful for having people that have spelled out what I need to do and how I need to eat. I work best with "instructions". Tell me what I need to do, and I will do it. However, the challenge is to silence the mind so that the body can do what it needs to do... whether it's to eat, drink, rest, etc.

I am soooo thankful for the link I am going to post below:
http://whole30.com/2013/08/revised-timeline/  One of my fellow challengers who has gone through this posted it. While I am not looking forward to the various phases it's helpful to know what I am experiencing at the time is totally normal and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just like when you are pregnant (for those that have been pregnant) and you seek out pregnancy boards, pregnancy information, pregnancy groups, this is no different.

Also here's another helpful link on portion sizes. Eating in the correct proportion, combinations, and certain times is key.
http://whole9life.com/book/ISWF-Meal-Planning-Template.pdf

Thanks for all your support. Xo
V

Day 2

RAGING.headache.all.day
...But that tells me something is working. #detox
It's all in how you look at it.



And yay me for eating totally clean (paleo) even though I was at The Ritz enjoying a little Staycation Spring Break day. I packed all my food and snacks. We went to dinner and I ordered clean clean clean.

Tired....night!

V

Day 1

First thing I did this morning (instinctively) was reach for my boys' gummy vitamins. As soon as I went to twist the top off I caught myself. I woke up super pumped for the challenge. My fridge is stocked with stuff I can eat and I almost accidentally ate 2 gummy vitamins. I don't know if I can take vitamins, but I know that gummy vitamins are OUT.

As I sit here typing this I have a lingering headache which I have had all day. I think it's a caffeine headache. I honestly thought I had built up a tolerance to Starbucks but I discovered today that there is clearly something in their coffee that helps me out in the morning.  I could not stop yawning and my energy most of the day felt low. I poured myself a big tall infused water to enjoy on my ride into work, but it wasn't the same.

I need to keep this short and sweet because I can't wait to go to bed...

I did really well with food today. I mixed in eggs, nuts, salmon, chicken, apples, and a salad. I wasn't hungry at all. The most intense craving I had was for gum. I chew Orbit. I tend to chew it at work, in front of my computer, after a meal, at the gym, etc and I wanted gum BADLY today. That and the coffee were the hardest. In fact, I took my boys to Bass Pro Shop tonight and the guy helping us was chewing gum and I couldn't stop looking at his mouth. I am sure he thought I was a freak.

And yes... after a loooong day at work I dragged myself to Lifetime tonight. Once I got there I was fine. I got in a really good workout. Mixed it up with some wall ball and lots of core, finished with a little cardio.

29 days to go...

V.

PS... Thank you to all that have posted on my Facebook and asked to follow this blog. Your support and encouragement really mean a lot. Xo

More info on the program I am following Whole 30/ Paleo
http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/

Ready or Not.....

'Twas the Night Before Christmas....

Well, tonight I made a quick run to the grocery store and picked up a few more things that I didn't want to buy in bulk at CostCo. There is a part of me that's a bit disappointed that I didn't prep full blown meals but given my crazy work schedule and the fact that it's our Spring Break, I really plan on keeping it simple this first week. I have a huge Tupperware full of cooked chicken and I plan on eating that up with different veges these first few days. I have fruit and nuts for snacks, eggs for breakfast and plenty of stuff to season everything with.

Just a couple more hours and it's GO time. I am not sure why I started to feel a little anxious at times these last couple of days. I know that I have complete control over this and in the end this is a way better way to eat but I guess I really don't want to fail. We are partnered up so I want to get the most points possible so I don't let my team down. Oh... for those that are not familiar with the challenge.... You don't "win" by weight loss or inches or anything like that. You win by getting points. You earn points by sticking to a Whole 30/ Paleo Diet, exercising, drinking water, etc. You have points deducted for cheating and eating fence foods or drinks like coffee, not getting your points in, etc.

It's so easy to grab processed foods even if they are "healthy" like Greek Yogurt, Protein Bars, Protein Shakes, etc. so this is going to be a real challenge. As well as staying organized. We are on the go a lot. I work full time and my boys are active in sports so sometimes it's easy to eat on the run. We make healthy choices like Chipotle for fast food and we all eat fairly well at restaurants but you can't control the ingredients at restaurants so a lot of that is going to be OUT for the next 30 days so I need to plan plan plan.

Ok well, I am going to enjoy this last glass of wine. I know I will not miss alcohol as much as my Starbucks and gum. I really can't wait to see what my body does in 30 days so I need to keep my mind on that.

Here's my motivation... DO IT FOR THE AFTER PICTURE!!! & a healthy gut!

Good Night Y'all....

V.

It feels like New Years Eve...

New Years Eve is the "last night" of all the holiday indulging before wiping the slate clean on New Year's Day. So knowing that I am staring at 30 days of a strict diet has me feeling "festive". The crazy thing is that I eat pretty well for the most part and I don't particularly crave certain things. I am pretty good about moderation but knowing that I am going to kick off this challenge April 1st must have triggered something inside me. I found myself having the total mental green light to eat foods I typically don't. I had a grilled cheese for lunch on Friday. In part that was because it was the easiest thing to grab in between meetings and on a fish Friday (lent). It tasted so good that I had another one on Saturday followed by a cheeseburger on Sunday. I felt kinda gross afterwards. I am sure that skipping the gym Friday, Saturday, and Sunday didn't help. But hey, might as well make a good "before" picture. (lol)

I stocked up on tilapia, chicken thighs, & organic beef at CostCo as well as cauliflower, broccoli, and eggs. Now I just need to hit the grocery store and get more of the "other" stuff that I don't want to buy in mass quantity. Like I said in my last post, I plan on keeping things basic this week and I will find some paleo / Whole30 recipes to try as the week goes on and I prep for week 2. I had so much going on last week and this weekend that I chose not to spend my weekend in the kitchen. But, I plan on cooking tonight.

I had my last Venti at Starbucks this morning. I really think that and my Orbit gum is going to be the hardest things to give up. I know the Starbucks isn't as much about the caffeine because I did switch to decaf for a week earlier this year but it's just part of my routine. I go in, every morning, on my way to work, say hello to the same people that are sitting in the same spots, reading the paper, I grab my coffee (load it up with extra cream & Sweet and Low) and enjoy it for my 15-20 minute drive into work. It's habit. And I enjoy it. I also chew a ton of gum. It helps keep other things out of my mouth. But, gum's forbidden as well. So, I guess I will have to reach for water and think of an alternative to coffee in the morning. I don't know WHAT I am going to drink during my quiet time on weekend mornings while I am on Pinterest. Clearly I need to come up with a new routine or beverage alternatives.

V.

Here.I.Go.Again....

.... Well, for those that are still checking in... Thank you! I decided to start blogging again because I am about to start the most strictest challenge I have ever participated in on April 1st. I really find that it helps me to journal and keeps me accountable.

I haven't totally fallen off the horse. I have still kept up with bootcamps, regular workouts and eating clean (for the most part). The reason I am doing this challenge is really to prove to myself that I can and to see if committing to truly clean eating is going to change what nature is desperately trying to control.

For the last 2 years I have been really consistent with my workouts and with my nutrition. It was frustrating in the beginning because I didn't see "major" changes and if you read my last blog you will know that it wasn't until I started to work with a trainer and she helped me understand "clean eating" that I FINALLY started to see some progress. However, it's crazy that since I turned 40 (October 2013) it seems like my body has a mind of it's own. No matter how much I work out or how clean I eat I don't see any progress. In fact, I feel as though my body is changing in ways that I don't want it to. Many of my friends tell me it's "just what happens when you are 40"... Uggg. I am sure some of it is hormonal, but if I am really honest with myself I know that I am not always consistent. I didn't drink Jan 1-Feb 1 2014, but I wasn't logging my food, I would take a bite here and there of carbs, I would indulge in chips & salsa, and processed foods. So, even though I was eating healthy for the most part, I wasn't being totally clean and really doing what I needed to do to lose weight. It's not really about weight because I do avoid the scale but I base how I feel on how my clothes fit. Jeans, shorts, and work pants don't lie. This winter my pants were snug. For all the working out and "mostly" clean eating I was worse off than I was in the summer and early fall. This has recently given me anxiety because I feel like my body is spinning out of control.

Fast forward to the challenge. I read a lot and follow fitness posts on Facebook as well as fitness motivation pictures on Instagram. I know that diet is 90% of what it takes and if I am going to be REALLY honest with myself then I need to do a total 180. No more bites of this or that that "don't count". Every bite counts and I am going to cut all the crap.

The challenge follows basically a Paleo diet and the Whole 30 principals of eating WHOLE food. No added sugar, artificial or otherwise, no dairy, grains, rice, etc etc etc. I am not sure what's going to be more difficult; prepping whole food OR saying adios to Starbucks and Orbit gum! But, in order for it to work you can't cheat. No bites of this or that. Nothing. The goal is to reset your body and clean our your gut. The organizer (Jessie White) provided me with a very complete package of information. I feel like I have a lot to learn but I am ready to hit the ground running. I think for the first week I am going to keep things really basic so I don't screw it up and slowing introduce new paleo recipes. The key is having everything you need in the fridge/ pantry. I made a big CostCo run today but I need to hit the grocery store and Whole Foods tomorrow.

I am excited!!!! Hope you will follow me again on this journey. I can't wait to see what my body does in 30 days!!!!

V.