Day 28......
Yesterday was the last yoga session with my Rockstars at Dragonfly. It was an awesome class and Katie pampered us with cool, lavender scented towels and peppermint foot spray at the end. It was an amazing end to an amazing class and amazing journey. I now want peppermint foot spray for every savasana!!!
I was gone ALL day yesterday....went on a run, had dance team and bow making most of the morning, yoga, shopped for birthday gifts, went to a birthday party. Oh, and we cleaned out the garage. We decided to go out to eat and the place we wanted to go was full, so we ended up at Pasqual's, a Mexican place. Now, most Mexican places have some meals with no tortillas, but the ONLY thing at Pasqual's that I could eat was fajitas with no beans, rice, or tortillas. They were actually very good and I am still feeling full!
But I was almost angry that I couldn't have a margarita. I really, REALLY wanted a margarita! It was a fairly warm day yesterday, Pasqual's has awesome margaritas, and the fact that I couldn't have one made me want one even more.
The tortillas, beans, rice, sour cream, and cheese didn't tempt me at all. I haven't missed those foods this month. And instead of feeling overly full and bloated after my meal last night, I felt comfortably full and good.
As I see the end coming, I feel almost afraid; I won't have the cover of the group or the excuse of the challenge to keep on the program, and I hope I make good decisions. I'm determined to keep it up - I hope I can stay strong!!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Day 27 Is this the end?
Day 27 Only 3 days to go
I cannot believe how quickly these 27 days have flown by. Yes, it's almost the end of the challenge, but really the beginning of something else.
First, new lesson learned this week; nuts are hard on my digestion. Katie challenged us this week to not eat nuts and limit fruit to one meal. I accepted that challenge and it was going great until yesterday. I had not eaten breakfast yet as I was going to run and as I was getting dressed, my phone rang. A friend had locked her keys in her car and was asking if I could get her spare set from her house and bring them to her in Cottage Grove, about 30 minutes from here. Of course, if I can do something for someone, I'm going to do it, so I changed and got ready to leave. But I was super hungry and knew that it would be a while before I could eat and I didn't have time to properly prepare something, so I grabbed a banana, slathered it with almond butter, and ran out the door.
I got home and was still hungry and didn't have time to run because I was meeting a friend for a yoga class downtown and then having lunch, so I ate some more nuts with some fruit. Actually, I ate quite a few nuts. And then I paid for it all day!!! My stomach was churning and gurgling and making noises and giving me all kinds of discomfort. So now I know that I must really limit the nuts.
But I never would have known that had Katie not offered that challenge and I hadn't tried.
Another lesson learned this month is that the grains and dairy I was eating before was leaving me bloated most of the time and having some severe digestion issues. This new way of eating always gives me energy and leaves me feeling full, but not overly full and bloated and sleepy.
Even though the challenge is ending, it will NOT be the end of a healthy way of eating and my new relationship with food. This is just the beginning....the beginning of many days of feeling healthy and fit and having the energy to do all of the things I want to do as I enter this new stage of my life.
PS - Oh, another thing - I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a long time yesterday at a yoga class. She said to me, "Wow, you look so fit!" That was the best compliment I have ever received!!!
I cannot believe how quickly these 27 days have flown by. Yes, it's almost the end of the challenge, but really the beginning of something else.
First, new lesson learned this week; nuts are hard on my digestion. Katie challenged us this week to not eat nuts and limit fruit to one meal. I accepted that challenge and it was going great until yesterday. I had not eaten breakfast yet as I was going to run and as I was getting dressed, my phone rang. A friend had locked her keys in her car and was asking if I could get her spare set from her house and bring them to her in Cottage Grove, about 30 minutes from here. Of course, if I can do something for someone, I'm going to do it, so I changed and got ready to leave. But I was super hungry and knew that it would be a while before I could eat and I didn't have time to properly prepare something, so I grabbed a banana, slathered it with almond butter, and ran out the door.
I got home and was still hungry and didn't have time to run because I was meeting a friend for a yoga class downtown and then having lunch, so I ate some more nuts with some fruit. Actually, I ate quite a few nuts. And then I paid for it all day!!! My stomach was churning and gurgling and making noises and giving me all kinds of discomfort. So now I know that I must really limit the nuts.
But I never would have known that had Katie not offered that challenge and I hadn't tried.
Another lesson learned this month is that the grains and dairy I was eating before was leaving me bloated most of the time and having some severe digestion issues. This new way of eating always gives me energy and leaves me feeling full, but not overly full and bloated and sleepy.
Even though the challenge is ending, it will NOT be the end of a healthy way of eating and my new relationship with food. This is just the beginning....the beginning of many days of feeling healthy and fit and having the energy to do all of the things I want to do as I enter this new stage of my life.
PS - Oh, another thing - I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a long time yesterday at a yoga class. She said to me, "Wow, you look so fit!" That was the best compliment I have ever received!!!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Day 25
Day 25 - And the sun continues to shine
Thankfully the sun is out again today and is supposed to continue to shine for the next several days! It feels as if we all got pardoned and can finally relax.
One lesson I've learned this past month is that the weather has a real affect on my hunger and what I want to eat. It's been a TERRIBLE month as far as weather goes - so cold and cloudy and rainy. On the few sunny and warm days that we have had, I haven't been all that hungry or had many food cravings. On those nasty days, I want to curl up on the couch with food, and I'm not talking about fish and vegetables.
This week I have noticed that I am sleeping less, but sleeping better. I have been up before my alarm every day and going to bed at pretty much the same time. I'm not tired at all during the day, and I have tons of energy that I didn't have before. Last weekend, I noticed that I was waking up much earlier than usual and wasn't feeling like I needed that Sunday nap.
But the best, most fantastic, exciting event of the month happened yesterday when I got dressed for work....I was able to get into a pair of jeans I couldn't wear when the month started. A smaller size. And they weren't tight! Yes, in just 25 days, my body has changed that much.
There are only 5 days left of this challenge and I'm already looking ahead to what my eating habits will be on May 1. The annual health risk assessment for the insurance at my husband's company is May 17, so I am sticking with the program completely until then, just to see what the changes have been. After that, I don't know. I'm feeling so good that I want to keep a majority of the new habits, but I will probably have non-Whole30 treat or meal every now and then. It's going to happen. But I'm hoping this month has taught me that I can feel amazing just by making good food choices and that I can get right back on board.
Now, to enjoy that sunshine.....
Thankfully the sun is out again today and is supposed to continue to shine for the next several days! It feels as if we all got pardoned and can finally relax.
One lesson I've learned this past month is that the weather has a real affect on my hunger and what I want to eat. It's been a TERRIBLE month as far as weather goes - so cold and cloudy and rainy. On the few sunny and warm days that we have had, I haven't been all that hungry or had many food cravings. On those nasty days, I want to curl up on the couch with food, and I'm not talking about fish and vegetables.
This week I have noticed that I am sleeping less, but sleeping better. I have been up before my alarm every day and going to bed at pretty much the same time. I'm not tired at all during the day, and I have tons of energy that I didn't have before. Last weekend, I noticed that I was waking up much earlier than usual and wasn't feeling like I needed that Sunday nap.
But the best, most fantastic, exciting event of the month happened yesterday when I got dressed for work....I was able to get into a pair of jeans I couldn't wear when the month started. A smaller size. And they weren't tight! Yes, in just 25 days, my body has changed that much.
There are only 5 days left of this challenge and I'm already looking ahead to what my eating habits will be on May 1. The annual health risk assessment for the insurance at my husband's company is May 17, so I am sticking with the program completely until then, just to see what the changes have been. After that, I don't know. I'm feeling so good that I want to keep a majority of the new habits, but I will probably have non-Whole30 treat or meal every now and then. It's going to happen. But I'm hoping this month has taught me that I can feel amazing just by making good food choices and that I can get right back on board.
Now, to enjoy that sunshine.....
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Day 23 - Only one week left!
This is it....the LAST WEEK!!! Did we really come this far, fellow Rockstars?
Today was a tough day....I'm not gonna lie. First, it's freezing! It's like a day in November instead of the end of April. It's been cloudy, windy, rainy, and in the 30's today and that was very hard to endure after the beautiful sun and 65 yesterday. Second, I had to chaperon a field trip to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center with all of the third grade at my daughter's school, which included being outside in this cold and riding a bus with all 66 third graders. I also helped in Lily's class this morning, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, did a Spinning class at 5:30 this morning, and worked. I'm exhausted.
And I was HUNGRY this afternoon! I may turn orange from all of the carrots I have eaten.
So, the lesson for today is that I need to eat more slowly. Usually, this isn't really a problem for me, but I had to eat my breakfast really quickly to get my girl to school on time and after my class and shower, and then we had very little time to eat after the field trip. I felt like I didn't even taste anything and it was just unpleasant. It actually made me kind of angry!
Also, the importance of early week preparation really hit home. I was so busy that I didn't have much time to cook today, but that was OK because I had a pot of chili in the fridge that I made up on Sunday. All I had to do was heat it up and dinner was ready!!! Yay for being prepared!!
This was some really delicious, filling chili and perfect for this raw, cold day. It is made with ground lamb, so the flavor is very different, but really warming. I found it on the Foodee Project website, but it's from a site called The Paleo Periodical. If you are looking for something different, give it a try!!
http://paleoperiodical.com/2013/01/08/recipe-lamb-and-olive-chili/
One week from tomorrow, I'm going to have a glass of wine. Just one, and then that is it for a while, but I really want one perfect, glorious, delicious glass of red wine!
Today was a tough day....I'm not gonna lie. First, it's freezing! It's like a day in November instead of the end of April. It's been cloudy, windy, rainy, and in the 30's today and that was very hard to endure after the beautiful sun and 65 yesterday. Second, I had to chaperon a field trip to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center with all of the third grade at my daughter's school, which included being outside in this cold and riding a bus with all 66 third graders. I also helped in Lily's class this morning, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, did a Spinning class at 5:30 this morning, and worked. I'm exhausted.
And I was HUNGRY this afternoon! I may turn orange from all of the carrots I have eaten.
So, the lesson for today is that I need to eat more slowly. Usually, this isn't really a problem for me, but I had to eat my breakfast really quickly to get my girl to school on time and after my class and shower, and then we had very little time to eat after the field trip. I felt like I didn't even taste anything and it was just unpleasant. It actually made me kind of angry!
Also, the importance of early week preparation really hit home. I was so busy that I didn't have much time to cook today, but that was OK because I had a pot of chili in the fridge that I made up on Sunday. All I had to do was heat it up and dinner was ready!!! Yay for being prepared!!
This was some really delicious, filling chili and perfect for this raw, cold day. It is made with ground lamb, so the flavor is very different, but really warming. I found it on the Foodee Project website, but it's from a site called The Paleo Periodical. If you are looking for something different, give it a try!!
http://paleoperiodical.com/2013/01/08/recipe-lamb-and-olive-chili/
One week from tomorrow, I'm going to have a glass of wine. Just one, and then that is it for a while, but I really want one perfect, glorious, delicious glass of red wine!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Day 22 - The Home Stretch
Here it is....Day 22. We are in the home stretch of this challenge, kids.
Only eight days left. And Miss Katie, our ever optimistic leader, has issued yet a challenge within this challenge; no nuts for the rest of our time and fruit only with breakfast. The gauntlet has been thrown and I am up to the task!!!
I will admit to probably eating too many nuts, and maybe too much fruit. I tried to keep my fruit consumption down to just twice a day and only with a protein, but I wasn't always diligent about it. I made it through yesterday, and I only have 8 more days to go, so I KNOW I can do this.
Nuts and fruit are not bad and are totally allowed on Whole30. The problem is that nuts are high in fat and are difficult on the digestive system for some of us. Fruit is wonderful with many of the vitamins we need and lots of fiber. The problem with fruit is that it has A LOT of sugar. It's natural sugar, but sugar nonetheless and can cause a spike in our blood sugar. Psychologically, it can become a crutch and takes the place of our something sweet in the afternoon or the sweet snacks we turn to. Giving up the nuts and fruit for even a short period of time can help us to reset our needs and learn to cope with our stress, boredom, or "sweet fix" in a different way.
I made this awesome dinner last night and it was so easy!!! I found this recipe for One Pot Mustard and Lemon Chicken with Carrots on The Foodee Project from Crankin' The Kitchen. (http://crankingkitchen.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/one-pot-mustard-and-lemon-chicken/) I steamed some asparagus to go with it and it was a huge hit with the family! There is quite a bit left over for us to enjoy for lunch or our leftover night on Thursdays.
The sun is out, it's not raining, and it's above 40 for a change, so I'm biking to yoga and then going for a short, 3 mile run when I get home. The weather looks to be pretty nice this week which means I will actually be able to run outside! I may be ready for that half marathon next month after all....
Only eight days left. And Miss Katie, our ever optimistic leader, has issued yet a challenge within this challenge; no nuts for the rest of our time and fruit only with breakfast. The gauntlet has been thrown and I am up to the task!!!
I will admit to probably eating too many nuts, and maybe too much fruit. I tried to keep my fruit consumption down to just twice a day and only with a protein, but I wasn't always diligent about it. I made it through yesterday, and I only have 8 more days to go, so I KNOW I can do this.
Nuts and fruit are not bad and are totally allowed on Whole30. The problem is that nuts are high in fat and are difficult on the digestive system for some of us. Fruit is wonderful with many of the vitamins we need and lots of fiber. The problem with fruit is that it has A LOT of sugar. It's natural sugar, but sugar nonetheless and can cause a spike in our blood sugar. Psychologically, it can become a crutch and takes the place of our something sweet in the afternoon or the sweet snacks we turn to. Giving up the nuts and fruit for even a short period of time can help us to reset our needs and learn to cope with our stress, boredom, or "sweet fix" in a different way.
I made this awesome dinner last night and it was so easy!!! I found this recipe for One Pot Mustard and Lemon Chicken with Carrots on The Foodee Project from Crankin' The Kitchen. (http://crankingkitchen.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/one-pot-mustard-and-lemon-chicken/) I steamed some asparagus to go with it and it was a huge hit with the family! There is quite a bit left over for us to enjoy for lunch or our leftover night on Thursdays.
The sun is out, it's not raining, and it's above 40 for a change, so I'm biking to yoga and then going for a short, 3 mile run when I get home. The weather looks to be pretty nice this week which means I will actually be able to run outside! I may be ready for that half marathon next month after all....
Friday, April 19, 2013
Day 19 - And it snows....
Day 19 And it snows......
Seriously, could I have picked a WORSE month to do this challenge? I'm so depressed by this weather and I can't turn to my usual suspects to get me through. (Um, that would be wine and chocolate.)
OK, after reading that, I guess this is the BEST month to do this because now I have to find new ways to deal with depressing and stressful situations. Although I would rather be out running or taking a walk to relieve stress than having to run on the treadmill yet again....but that's another story.
Yesterday I was SOOOOOOO hungry! All day. Like, I could have eaten fish and veggies all day type hungry. It was the real, physical, my stomach is growling and I feel weak hunger. So what did I do? I ate! I ate good food, but I honored that hunger and ate. I waited it out to see if it was real and hunger and deciding that it was, I ate.
Before this challenge, I would not have eaten. I would have been cranky and suffered and made myself starve because that is what I have learned. I also would, at this point, be frantically counting calories and fat grams and weighing myself and obsessing over every morsel I consumed and how much weight I would gain from eating. That, my friends, is NOT healthy.
The past 19 days I have found myself really listening to my body and trying to learn what true hunger is, what food really tastes like, when I'm feeling a need to rest and take a break from a workout, when I'm just being lazy, when I need sleep, when I need to take a deep breath and relax.
In the busyness of life and the drive to be perfect, I lost my ability to understand what I need and what my body needs. Slowing down, really enjoying my food, not pushing myself with longer and faster runs, being still in a yoga pose have made me realize how crazy my life has become. Katie reminded us yesterday that it's OK to say no - no to food, to a favor, to a job, to a new commitment. I'm beginning to make some changes in my life and it feels really good!!!
So, even though it's April 19 and snowing, I will be ok. It will stop. I will see the sun again.
Seriously, could I have picked a WORSE month to do this challenge? I'm so depressed by this weather and I can't turn to my usual suspects to get me through. (Um, that would be wine and chocolate.)
OK, after reading that, I guess this is the BEST month to do this because now I have to find new ways to deal with depressing and stressful situations. Although I would rather be out running or taking a walk to relieve stress than having to run on the treadmill yet again....but that's another story.
Yesterday I was SOOOOOOO hungry! All day. Like, I could have eaten fish and veggies all day type hungry. It was the real, physical, my stomach is growling and I feel weak hunger. So what did I do? I ate! I ate good food, but I honored that hunger and ate. I waited it out to see if it was real and hunger and deciding that it was, I ate.
Before this challenge, I would not have eaten. I would have been cranky and suffered and made myself starve because that is what I have learned. I also would, at this point, be frantically counting calories and fat grams and weighing myself and obsessing over every morsel I consumed and how much weight I would gain from eating. That, my friends, is NOT healthy.
The past 19 days I have found myself really listening to my body and trying to learn what true hunger is, what food really tastes like, when I'm feeling a need to rest and take a break from a workout, when I'm just being lazy, when I need sleep, when I need to take a deep breath and relax.
In the busyness of life and the drive to be perfect, I lost my ability to understand what I need and what my body needs. Slowing down, really enjoying my food, not pushing myself with longer and faster runs, being still in a yoga pose have made me realize how crazy my life has become. Katie reminded us yesterday that it's OK to say no - no to food, to a favor, to a job, to a new commitment. I'm beginning to make some changes in my life and it feels really good!!!
So, even though it's April 19 and snowing, I will be ok. It will stop. I will see the sun again.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Day 18 Shall I build an ark?
I can't remember what it's like to have a day with no rain. It's rained every day for at least the past week, maybe longer. And it's cold. It's depressing.
I've noticed that my fellow Whole30 challengers are beginning to feel stressed and tempted. The posts in our Facebook group have been about how difficult these days have been for them and I am right there myself! I've noticed that everywhere I go, people are a little more cranky and impatient, I hear of headaches and coughs, and it's been difficult to get my kids out of bed. It's depressing, and it makes me want to hunker down and eat gooey food.
One would think that by day 18, it would be easier, but this mid point is just as difficult as those early days. I feel better physically, but I seem to be more tempted and have more cravings. I keep telling myself that it will pass and eat more celery. What am I craving? Mostly wine! I think some of that is from the habit I had developed of having a glass (or more) most evenings after work. And I would love to have a muffin some morning; not a typical muffin, but one with almond flour and honey.
I think some of the cravings are really a craving for being outside and getting some sun. If I could get out and take a walk or start my garden, I really believe that I wouldn't even be thinking about food. I've always known that I have some issues with seasonal depression and how the sun affects my mood, but I'm feeling it more strongly right now.
All of these are good lessons. Learning how food affects me, my moods, my life will help me to make better choices for myself and my family. Learning to find ways to deal with times of stress and the weather related blues in something other than food and wine is hard, but so worth it in the long run.
I can't remember what it's like to have a day with no rain. It's rained every day for at least the past week, maybe longer. And it's cold. It's depressing.
I've noticed that my fellow Whole30 challengers are beginning to feel stressed and tempted. The posts in our Facebook group have been about how difficult these days have been for them and I am right there myself! I've noticed that everywhere I go, people are a little more cranky and impatient, I hear of headaches and coughs, and it's been difficult to get my kids out of bed. It's depressing, and it makes me want to hunker down and eat gooey food.
One would think that by day 18, it would be easier, but this mid point is just as difficult as those early days. I feel better physically, but I seem to be more tempted and have more cravings. I keep telling myself that it will pass and eat more celery. What am I craving? Mostly wine! I think some of that is from the habit I had developed of having a glass (or more) most evenings after work. And I would love to have a muffin some morning; not a typical muffin, but one with almond flour and honey.
I think some of the cravings are really a craving for being outside and getting some sun. If I could get out and take a walk or start my garden, I really believe that I wouldn't even be thinking about food. I've always known that I have some issues with seasonal depression and how the sun affects my mood, but I'm feeling it more strongly right now.
All of these are good lessons. Learning how food affects me, my moods, my life will help me to make better choices for myself and my family. Learning to find ways to deal with times of stress and the weather related blues in something other than food and wine is hard, but so worth it in the long run.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)