My Dairy Evaluation

Today the research begins! I've chosen to go along pretty closely to what they recommend for Reintroduction. Today I begin with my Dairy Evaluation.

1: Leftover fritatta w ground turkey and veg, 3 dates w almond butter (treat!), some cherries, and chobani vanilla greek yogurt, peacan pieces

• felt heavy after this meal. but ok. I could take or leave yogurt.

2: turkey rolls, mini sweet peppers, carrots, green olives, caprese salad with fresh Mozzarella cheese

• the cheese was so creamy and lovely. But I slowed into a foggy state. turning into a gross headache. throat feels funny, like I've been congested, kind of burning feeling. oh boy.  headache worsened later on and heart burn, too.

3: 2 ckn thighs, squash, sw potato, green olives. free small cup of Bruster's choc chip ice cream.

• heart was still burning from lunch. Ice Cream tasted really amazing and creamy. after I ate it my mouth felt like it was burning. flemmy throat. low grade headache and more heartburn. Oy. Pity.

Whole9's Dairy Manifesto is here: //whole9life.com/2013/06/the-dairy-manifesto/

Day 31: The Results are In!

After eating for 30 days: no dairy, no grains, no legumes (including peanuts or soy), no sugar, no artificial things…

• Clothes fit better!
• Before/After photo have a noticeable difference in my waist. Met one of my goals!
• Lost 4-8 pounds. (weighed a couple times on day 0)
• Skin is “brighter”? Shiny in a non-greasy way. Not entirely cleared up but getting better. I knew going in to this that it takes more than 30 days to get dairy and gluten entirely out of your system. But encouraged by the results.
• More confident. Sounds funny to me, but I think it’s a combo of the increase in energy and knowing that I’m doing good for my body. This has resulted in wearing pre-baby clothes for my husband around the house. Fun.

This was my first whole30. There are several things I could do better at. But I wasn’t even sure I could do it beforehand. Now that I’m over that, the next time through I’ll have different goals (water intake, sleep, exercise) and more variety for my meals. And in between now and the next time, I plan to mostly eat this way.

Day 30: What I learned

What I learned from my first Whole30

I don’t do the official weigh in and before/after photo until tomorrow, day 31, but with or without drastic results there, I have learned some important lessons.
• My experience confirms the habit research. It is easier to go cold turkey on sugar, dairy, etc. than to just cut back. And I did it. I really did it.
• Grains/bread/rice are not necessary to fill out a proper meal and get full. Eating good fats (olives, coconut, avocado) and lots of veg can fill you up. The protein wasn’t an issue for me, but getting enough veg can be.
• Check ingredients. Soy and sugar are super prevalent in even the most innocent looking things like salad dressing, marinades, seasoning packets, rubs. So unnecessary and not good for us.
• Though it took work, especially lots of planning and lots of washing dishes, the Whole30 and eating well is entirely worth it for the sake of my health. I recommend it to anybody interested.

Day 27re: filling up and other things

I've discovered I graze too much. The Whole30 template says 3 full meals and when I do it, I really don't need the snacking in between.

Another notion debunked: that only grains are filling. Like I need bread or rice to balance out a meal and fill me up. Nope. The good fats are a must. And adequate amounts if veg, too. Truth be told, I still think I need to keep upping my veg, it's the part if my meals I have to work at hardest. There's a good long term goal: learn more variations and flavor for adding more veg to my life.

Read the reintro chapter tonight. Fun to think about. On my non-gluten grain day I think I'll get a Chipotle bowl w brown rice and tortilla chips. Heh, oh wait... The meat has soy. Gotta think this through....then how bout the legume day and get the salad w black beans? heh, fun.

On a different note, I'm nervous about hidden oils or small mistakes I've made that didn't allow my body to get full benefit. The scallop w butter and 4 grains of rice... Did they keep my body from really getting full benefit? The dates... Was it too much sugar? I'm not seeing drastic changes. Wish I had measured. Hopefully my before and after photos will help me see change. Maybe my skin will clear up on day 29? Sigh.

Day 25 Random thoughts

Just had this for breakfast...yummo! what a treat! http://paleomg.com/s...akfast-patties/ They crumbled apart, but I still loved it.

I used to judge those photos of bento lunch boxed with 6-8 different kinds of food for lunch. But wow, it really helps and makes a difference to have a variety of textures, not just colors. and variety in all forms, just really makes a meal more fun. Shame on me for judging.

Day 24 Cranky town again

I think I'm grumpy because while I like the effects of the Whole30, the effort it takes is getting to be a pain. I sound so lazy. I do the cook up on Sundays, but most of my meals require sauteing which requires a pot to clean. Blah blah Blah, forgive my complaining.

Also, I ate some dried dates at a friends house and they were AMAZING and I want them so badly. Bring me all the dried DATES!

Doh! and I tested a few grains of rice today for my mom who was feeling ill. Booo!!

(somebody later suggested that the sugar in the dates might have made me cranky. oh boy.)

Day 21 Beach Trip Summary

I survived our beach trip being compliant. well, a few snags, but moving forward trying to not get bogged down by them.

Snag #1: ate a scallop sauteed in butter. forgot the ghee at home, the local store didn't carry it. husband separated out the butter when cooking fish but not the scallops. felt terribly guilty after eating it. felt a lil funny but wasn't sure if it was the dairy or the guilt. I think my husband finally "got it" that I'm trying to get all of these foods out of my system, so no, I can't have just a little even one time.

Snag #2: one family member seemed to question my eating through most of the trip. the family in general didn't like how much I questioned the waitress when we were out getting seafood. I was gracious and she was trying to be, too, but didn't get my order right (fish cooked in butter instead of olive oil)

Snag #3: did some grazing, eating with family. compliant foods like almonds and pistachios and blueberries.

We planned all of our meals ahead of time, so I had good food and the family was helpful about separating out portions for me (hamburgers w/o bbq sauce mixed in, kebabs w/o dressing marinade).

I guess I'm still a bit frustrated at how hard it is to get food when at a resteraunt. I know there are some restaurants that make it easier, but I just don't trust em. Even the double portion of green beans that were supposedly "just boiled" came out with bacon on them. I had a few then gave up.

Day 15 Half way mark

Half-way there! Day 15 is done and I'm still compliant!

I won't bore you with the update of all of my meal plans. But I'm very happy to report that I'm on track with no cheats.

It hasn't been as hard to pass up food. My mind has been made up, I don't waver about it. But the hardest part has been just wanting more variety in what I eat.

So here's one thing that's working for me: Try to get at least 5 different textures/colors/foods on my plate at each meal. For example, sauteed ground pork, mini sweet pepper cut in half (like a boat or shell to fill), sweet potato, lettuce pieces, cherry tomatoes, green olives. The variety of flavors and textures makes this incongruous selection of foods work quite well together.

I made it through two days of 8-hour meetings, with junk food on the side. My dad grilled up a bunch of fajitas another night and was kind to find seasoning that worked for me. Plus he grilled lots of veg too, yum! Soon I'm headed to the beach with family. We've planned all of our meals and I'm hoping my in-laws are careful with seasonings after I already had to turn down lots of their food earlier this month because of sugar in things like salad dressing.

I'm less tired, ready to roll when I wake. hoping my tummy deflates now that it's done using sugar and grains for fuel. Hopefully the fat supplies will be put to use.

Day 9 missing more fruit

Day 9: Tuesday July 9
 

1: 2 eggs over easy + sweet potato (should have added a fat, i missed it, was hungry late morning)

2: Packed lunch: 2 chicken thighs + salad + several sugar snap peas + carrot + homemade ranch dressing +1/2 can olives + cherries

snack: sugar snap peas, carrot, mini sweet peppers

3: ground beef + string beans + tomato + 1/2 avocado

snack: unsweetened coconut flake, 2 small cubes watermelon
 

-i miss more fruit so so much. i could leave dairy behind, even cheese. but fruit I adore.

Days 7,8 Cranky-ville

Day 7: Sun July 7

1: scrambled eggs, orange cherry tomatoes, red and yellow sweet peppers, 1/2 avocado, blue berries and raspberries w unsweetened coconut flakes and slivered almonds

2: chicken thigh, sugar snap peas

3: halibut cooked w ghee, asparagus

I was wiped and cranky. It was my cook up day and it was taking forever. Plus husband wasn't crazy about grocery bill and I was tired of it all. But I kept on course.

I offered my toddler a piece of corn and when she turned it down I habitually put in my mouth...almost. 

Hoping for the Energy soon.

Day 8: Mon July 8

1: 2 scrambled eggs + sweet potatoes + some blueberries
2: sauteed ground beef + zucchini, sweet pepper, other veg + olives
3: sauteed ground pork + salad + carrots + sugar snap peas + homemade ranch dressing

Reflection: Woke up this morning to a dream that I was digging through a drawer and dug out and ate a brownie. odd. but I woke up then and didn't feel guilt. heh.

Still have one foot in cranky-town. Still wiped.

Drank unsweetened peppermint tea today and it was delicious! But then followed it with another tea and it gave me a headache...probably something clove related in there. Then tried a second peppermint tea, different brand, and it gave me a headache, too. Still, unsweetened tea may be my answer for helping me drink more water. Happy for that.

Tomorrow and Wed I go in for some teacher summer meetings. So it will be a bit different atmosphere, heh.

Day 6 still going...

Day 6

1: sweet potato and 2 scrambled eggs. few blueberries

snack: mini sweet peppers, sugar snap peas, 1/2 can olives

2: zucchini and red pepper sauteed with gr beef, topped with a few slivered almonds (which tasted so sweet!)

3: sauteed zucchini and red pepper with chicken thighs, 1/2 avocado

reflection: didn't notice the angry days yesterday and day before, according to the timeline. but husband said he noticed. uh, heh. would love a bowl of nuts and fruit.

Had 2 Whole Foods employees reading labels to try to find sugar free bacon. Nope, none there. Bought some ghee and some unsweetened coconut flakes there. which i'd like to scarf down this second but I haven't opened the bag.

I'd like my daily dose of fruit, too, but I'm trying to "change my relationship with food", said in a sarcastic tone because I know I should, but dang I want those sweet blueberries we picked the other day.

still low energy, looking forward to that changing. on the bright side, my taste buds think everything tastes amazing now that they've been away from sugar for a bit.

Day5: turning into an olive

Day 5: Fri July 5

1: 2 spinach/meat muffins, 6 blueberries
snack: mini sweet peppers, sugar snap peas, 1/2 can black olives
2: Ground Pork, 1 can green olives, salad, carrots, lemon-mayo dressing
3: egg salad w homemade mayo (made a new batch), carrots, green olives, turkey, blueberries, raspberries

It's obvious to me looking at this that I need to buy more avocados before I turn into a big olive. I also need more variety of vegetables. Glad to be going to the farmers market tomorrow to help with that.

Starting to meal plan for next week so I can do the grocery shopping. I should wander around the forums, blogs, and Well Fed to find some fresh inspiration.

Day 4: Uneventful 4th of July

Day 4: Thurs July 4

1:2 scrambled eggs, sauteed sweet potato and onion, some blueberries (freshly picked=so sweet!)

2 mile walk with the family

2: big salad with lime cumin dressing (w homemade mayo), leftover beef and green bean hot plate, 1/2 can black olives
snack: hard boiled egg (undercooked, boo)

3: 6 oz ground pork (yum!) and roasted sweet potato and onions with balsamic vinegar, 1 small avocado, 3 mini sweet peppers, some blueberries
 

Reflection: I think I need to keep pushing to make sure I'm getting enough veg so that I fill up. The things I miss the most: more fruit, croutons on my salad, tortilla chips. The fruit especially, is hard. My daughter eats a LOT of fruit, as do my in-laws. I miss it the most.
 

The hardboiled egg was a much more filling snack. But I guess I undercooked the lot of them. So...egg salad tomorow! Sounds like a nice change, actually. The pork tasted really good. Maybe it was the coconut oil, which I don't always use if my husband will be sharing ...he's allergic to coconut. What a nice change from ground beef!

Day 3 Day @ Aquarium + Cook Out

Day 3: Wednesday July 3

1: 2 muffins: ground turkey and spinach. 2 slices apple.
snack: carrot, 1/2 can green olives, mini bell peppers
2: tukey, 1/2 avocado, carrot
3: Cook out @ in-laws. 2 steamed crabs. salad. 1/2 breast brined "best chicken ever" from Well Fed. 6 amazing cherries. strawberry.

Hardest day yet (3 days, I know...i need to toughen up) especially at the cook-out. My very well-intentioned in-laws cooked several things thinking I could eat them. But the seasoning on the burgers? Sugar was 2nd ingredient. The envelope "home-made" dressing on the salmon? 1st ingredient=sugar. the amazing looking chicken thighes were basted in bbq sauce. It was a fight in my head. My brined chicken came out too salty for my taste. I just wanted a hambuger potato bun to soak up the salty taste.

I know this is when its supposed to get hard. and it's getting there. I keep thinking I'd be more satisfied with a few carbs... the hamburger bun, some of the grilled corn. Maybe it's just psycological. Maybe I need to be sure to eat more veg carbs like sweet potatos. Not sure. Right now slathering something with mayo sounds like it might help. And I'm not a mayo person, but the homemade stuff is decent. Maybe though that's my salty mouth talking, as it's still feeling salty form the brine a few hours ago.

high five to myself for not finishing the granola bar for my daughter or not nibbling on corn I cut for her off of the cob even though it smelled amazing. And she's almost 2, and does this really sweet sharing thing, handing me a tortilla chip today to share with me. Very sweet. And I didn't eat it but loved the gesture.

Day 2

Day 2: Tues July 2

1: 2 eggs over easy w sautéed Sweet Potato and onion
Snack: hand full of blueberries while picking them. 2 raspberries
2: leftover beef + broccoli. Mini bell peppers, a few sugar snap peas, 1.5 cans of green olives
3: hot plate: beef w green beans, tomato
Snack: 1 carrot

Reflection: low grade headache most of the day. Groggy most of the day. But positive attitude.
I think I'm in love with olives.
Silly: we were watching a competition TV show, and I got nervous for the competitors. I really wanted to eat some multi-grain chips! Or something for the anxiety! I've been trying to hydrate more because of my headaches, but I needed more so I went to find a carrot. It did the trick. 
And re: carrots...the organic whole ones are so sweet! My toddler likes ours but when we were at a friends house she didn't like it. I wonder if the organic has anything to do with it. 

Day 1.

M1: 2 muffins=ground turkey, spinach, egg. 1/2 avocado
M2: salad w turkey rolled & cumin-lime dressing (made from homemade mayo), black olives
Snack: mini bell peppers, carrot, green olives
M3: beef n broccoli hot plate w yellow bell pepper, whole avocado

Reflection:
- loved the cumin lime dressing.
- this salad wasn't filling enough. Need more protein and fat probably. Need to add protein to my snack, too.
- beef n broccoli was nice and spicy, picky husband approved! But the Chinese 5 spice in the stir fry sauce has cloves in it, which gives me headaches.
- this afternoon I started getting a headache. Still have it. My guesses: early sugar/other stuff withdrawal, dehydrated, the cloves from dinner.
- and the mind games begin! The habits are calling my name and i'm working to deny them. Plus I'm tired from staying up too late last night.
-overall, success.