I have more energy and feel better this week, while C says he’s still tired and sad. Christian has worked until midnight in surgeries several times this week, so I can’t really speak for him – having this many eating restrictions when you work as much as he does and have very little time to eat or drink anything can certainly be a drag. All of his coworkers are telling him that he looks “thin” and his “eyes are sunken in,” and I’m like, BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? Just kidding. But I’m not.
Another confession (I mean… these are weekly, whoops) – while my in-laws were visiting they wanted to visit a vineyard, and Christian and I hated to not take them on a quick and easy trip to Temecula. SO he and I shared two wine tastings at different vineyards (may have equaled a little less than a glass total). I cheated, again, with liquids… again. This time I felt no side effects whatsoever, but I still wanted to be totally honest.
PROS:
I think never feeling bloated is really an even more amazing feeling than I thought it would be. I feel like my body operates at its peak when eating this way. While I’ve only lost 5 lbs. (you’re not supposed to weigh yourself but I did, sue me), I could really tell a difference when I tried on clothes at Nordstrom on Friday. I was wearing a whole size smaller than I usually do (I think it’s because grains are usually 75% of my diet). Not eating grains and dairy has me completely unswollen, which I find interesting.
I have been amazed that I don’t have intense cheese cravings. I thought I would really miss it, and it turns out I can totally live without it (except for worth-it splurges, like pizza or mac ‘n cheese).
I’ve noticed that I don’t get as distracted as I usually do. I have more focus, which is interesting (and helpful!).
I’m not a pork person but I’ve started incorporating bacon into dishes and I mean… when you can’t eat 29473957 things, bacon tastes like little strips of gold.
CONS:
I mean… is it annoying for me to keep talking about the dish washing? I hate washing dishes… I spend a large chunk of my day in front of the kitchen sink,.. I know, I know, cry me a river (Christian likes to sing this song to me when I whine).
Eating out continues to be a challenge/not fun, and I’m in social/work situations where dining out cannot be avoided. As a previous eater of all the things, I don’t like being the person who sits there and doesn’t touch her food because I can’t eat ____.
The only dairy item I really have missed is organic half & half in my coffee. Christian doesn’t usually use any sweetener so he’s ok in this area. After all of this, if the only dairy I consume is coffee creamer – I don’t know which is better for me – soy creamer, organic or coconut creamer? Canned coconut milk isn’t cutting it anymore!
In the absence of not being able to eat soy, grains, dairy, legumes, sugar, alcohol or anything processed (oy!), I find myself eating more meat than I usually do. I’m trying to eat more veggies and less meat but it’s hard with all of these limitations.
FAVES:
This salad (minus the cheese) + bacon + sautéed shrimp = heaven. I ate two servings and had to unbutton the top button on my jeans if that’s any indication.
We both love bruschetta, so I’ve been topping marinated lemon pepper chicken strips with tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Delish!
These Trader Joe’s mashed sweet potatoes + ghee and toasted pecans = dessert.
Thank you guys SO much for all of your tips, support and recipes along the way! It’s been really fun to share these weekly updates with you guys and I’m really looking forward to the reintroduction process and sharing my final thoughts. Hope you’re having an amazing weekend! XO –
Thank you so much for posting this. I have really been looking into doing this… not to lose weight but to help with stomach issues and help with skin issues. I am wondering though once you I do this will my body completely hate me when I start reintroducing carbs and some sugar (weight gain, skin issues)? I’m looking forward to your experience post Whole 30. Oohh and don’t get discouraged about your husband losing weight it seriously always happens haha. I work out six days a week and have been training my husband over the last month. His body literally transformed overnight and as much as I love him feeling good about himself inside I’m like whatttt how does that happen so fast and why can’t that happen to me lol. You look great baseline so you have nothing to worry about ?
It’s really amazing (and quite annoying) how the food we eat can affect our bodies so quickly and so tremendously. Whenever I eat a dish high in carbs I go into what I call a carb coma and end up feeling like crap, so I just don’t do it often, but sometimes it’s just necessary. I do love my energy level and how I feel 90% of the time, so I tend to stick to a whole food based diet… When I eat too many carbs my skin breaks out and I’m bloated. After 5 or 6 years you just get used to eating this way… Mmm hmm.
Thanks for sharing! I’m interested to see how you make the switch off of it and what the rule of thumb is about slowly eating things again that you have cut out for the 30 days. I’m also interested to get your final thoughts…worth it or not? 🙂 XO -Anna
http://www.parkavenueblogger.com
All those dishes sound delish. I would love to see a post on how you make your Bruschetta!
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with your readers! I’m totally into the whole idea of anti-inflammatory’s such as dairy and carbs (which are also about 75% of my diet). I need to make a change, not for weight reasons, but because it’s not necessary for our bodies. Thank you again for sharing. I’m curious to see how you will continue/discontinue some certain foods. Please keep us updated! 🙂
http://www.toreybeerman.com
Thanks for sharing! I would love to do this but I’m afraid I don’t have the willpower or patience to follow through!
Sara | Lipstick, Lattes & Lunges
Well I mean… clearly I haven’t 100% followed it to the dot like I’m supposed to – but hey, even doing the best you can is an improvement, right?
I just started following you on Snapchat and you are hilarious! As someone with food sensitivities, and willingness to eat clean, I can totally relate to you! I eat pale 80/20. I started because of the bloat! I feel so bloated but when I eat clean, it really melts away. Keep it up! I loved your snap when you were on your stay cation and you were trying to find good food with your dietary restrictions. Have a nice night!
I love your honest feedback on Whole 30. So many people make it out to be the easiest, greatest thing ever, but it really is hard! So random, but have you ever tried ghee in your coffee instead of creamer? It’s bulletproof coffee, but you can make it with a little bit of coconut oil and ghee and just run it in a blender and it comes out like a delicious latte!
Thanks to a few of y’alls suggestions I tried ghee in my coffee this morning! Definitely tastes more like a flat white and less like black coffee (two thumbs up). I think I just feel a little guilty putting pure fat in my coffee… maybe I just need to get over that?
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve thought about giving it a try. Being bloated is THE WORST and I’m always willing to try something to get my stomach happy again.
Alyssa | Glitter and Grey
Ok I need to try this again. I know I can do it. I got really hangry the first time around after about four days and decided to have a margarita so I just need to attempt to stick with it (and maybe still have a margarita…). I really need to get my gut in check!
xoxo,
Katie
http://katievantassell.com
If it makes you feel better I also slipped with wine but I chose to keep at it rather than start over! I do see myself doing this again though, and maybe the more times I do it I will actually do it right!
Good for you! I always feel so much better when I eat healthy. It’s not easy to maintain, especially with food restrictions ( I don’t eat dairy, gluten, pork, and I avoid sugar as much as possible). Keep it up, it gets easier!
Tasha Juli
stylesplendorbliss.com
Love that. Thank you for the inspo!
I think when it comes to non dairy coffee creamers its more about technique than additive. When using almond milk, coconut milk, or butter/ghee, I think it helps a lot to stick an immersion blender in the mug and buzz it a second or two. Really emulsifies the fats into the coffee. And when you’re done with your mug, a splash of detergent and water and buzz that blender and its clean too!
Thanks for sharing your whole 30 journey! Love hearing your thoughts. I’ve been paleo for 3 years now, so I totally feel your pain!
I appreciate the advice! I don’t have an immersion blender right now, so to add ghee I have to use my Vitamix which of course is an extra step. But I think for those who follow the paleo eating plan the immersion blender is super helpful! I’m so impressed that you have been eating this way for three years, I’d love to hear how you feel now vs. before paleo!
I wish I could say its been rainbows and roses, but unfortunately our bodies are so complicated. What works this month might not work next month or next season when the pollen hits and throws things off! ugh! If I could do things over, I might take a better look at a biochem major! Surely that hubby of yours has an old textbook lying around??? ha! But I have learned lots about my body and what foods it likes, what it doesn’t like and what it will tolerate in small doses (like wine, good thing the more I have the less I notice!). So stick with it! I promise it will be worth it.
Thank you for posting! Sometimes it can be so hard to get an honest perspective on new diets & ways of eating, so this is great!
http://www.lucylovestosparkle.com
I’m so glad you find it relatable! I totally agree with you – I always want to know the REAL deal behind these eating plans and diets!
I have been wanting to try and eat healthier, and after watching your snaps, it makes me want to even more! I am notorious for eating all sorts of junk/greasy food, and while I obviously love it, I feel like crap afterwards! haha. I seriously applaud you, though, for being able to stick to this for so long! I’d definitely have to gradually work my way to cutting out as much as you have been able to, but you’re definitely giving me some motivation!! <3
BlondieInTheCity.com
Kathleen! I absolutely love your blog and am mildly obsessed Bailey…how are we not best friends!? Good luck with your final week!
I love reading your first-hand experience with Whole30 and am inspired to try it! Has it been totally hard remembering what all you AREN’T allowed to eat? I’d love any tips on remembering the rules!! Seems like a long list to remember…
I LOVE how honest you are in these check-ins. This is a nice reminder that you can be mostly focused on trying a program like this, but if you screw up you just keep going. That’s life. Thanks for sharing!
First of all, your blog name is INCREDIBLE. Secondly – thank you for that!! I think when I’m looking to try cleanses or diets, honest reviews are always was ultimately make me decide to go for it or not, so I wanted to be totally transparent. XOXO