Day 5 - Whole30 - Wow!

8:12 AM First of all, chicken breast for breakfast - not my favorite at all! But I ate breakfast...not in my car...in my office...wrong direction baby step.  However, it was just a funky morning.  I could not find a groove.  I was packing up the rest of my stuff for my trip.  I didn't do things last night that I would normally do and that makes for a hairier than normal morning.  I really have to make that evening shift to preparation for the next day - I even have my list made of what I need to do.  I just haven't started using it.  It starts Sunday - and that is that. Okay - so chicken - meh! But my coffee with coconut oil - ahhhhhhh!!

I did manage to prep all my food last night for my trip - insert pat on the back here - I have chicken, carrots, cauliflower, grapefruit, avacados, eggs and I even attempted a little dip.  I mixed chopped boiled eggs, diced avocado and some olive oil together, mashing as I mixed.  I think it will be yummy!  So I should seriously be prepared for anything.

I am looking forward to this little get away!  I need break - a brain break, an emotional break, a physical break, you name the break I need it!  I pray for an abundance of refreshing! I can't wait.

I plan to at least blog before I go to bed tonight.  Hopefully!

10:15 PM What a fantastic day!  I ate my lunch in the vehicle on the way to my sisters.  It's about an hour and half drive. Boneless skinless Chicken breast fried in coconut oil, carrot sticks and cauliflower.  It didn't take much at all and I was completely happy.  I had searched online for organic restaurants in Joplin and wrote down  4 of them that were organic friendly.  Chipotle was one of the restaurants.  I had never been but my sister says it is awesome.  So we went for dinner- can I just say A.MAZ.ING!  I had "a bowl" with  carnitas (pulled pork from friendly grown pigs) lettuce, fresh pico de gallo, and fresh guacamole.  Perfect portion, perfect flavor!  We ate a table outside, visited and relaxed.  It was a great dining experience. 

Tonight at the retreat they had snacks at about 7:30 or 8:00.  I really wasn't hungry but felt it would be odd if I didn't get something.  I stuck with carrots. broccoli and strawberries.  There were many other tasty looking treats that would have been fun to sample but I resisted easily. 

Here is your bonus for tonight - this retreat is great!  I used to come to this one about 10 years ago and I loved it so much then.  I was a young believer and aching for knowledge about what God wanted from me and what I was suppose to do as a Christian and I guess without knowing it I wanted so desperately to fit into this God life.  I was beat up (from my own words and thoughts), I was a failure, I was imperfect and odd, unaccepted.  Tonight as I listened to the speaker I realize I am still imperfect and odd but I am totally accepted, my past failures no longer have a hold on me and I now have a much clearer picture of who God created me to be.  My heart has changed ever so much.  I know I have grown in the Lord - like I have a clear memory of a past me to compare to the now me and its so obvious.  I feel proud and I feel victorious. God is good folks - that's simply all there is to it! 

I am ready for tomorrow! For the retreat and for Day 6 of Whole30!

Lots of love!

D. J.

Day 4 - I feel good!

10:16 AM - Great news! I did not eat breakfast in my car today!  I ate in the bathroom while putting on my make up! Baby steps.  Again, I realized this morning how much easier mornings would be if I prepared the night before!  I am going to get there.  Today I feel REALLY good!  I didn't expect to, but I do.  I woke up again before my alarm but chose to cuddle with my main squeeze until 6:20.  Cuddling is good.  I warmed up some of the diced steak I cooked on Sunday and cut up half of a happy avocado and mixed.  Had my coffee with coconut oil too.  I packed a larger amount of food today for lunch and snack (if needed).  I really wanted to be "prepared" today.  For what I am not sure! LOL!

I am excited and nervous about the next couple of days.  Tomorrow at noon I will be going to a women's retreat with my sister.  I will be out of my home element for Friday afternoon through until about 9 or 10 on Saturday.  I am excited about the retreat - I haven't been to a womens conference in MANY years.  I can't wait to have some lengthy dedicated unfamilyinterupted (I just made that word up) GOD time!  I want to hear from God and I want to just be and remain in His presence!  Nervous about making good eating choices.  I am seriously taking my insulated lunch back both days with healthy goodies that should get me through.  I will be doing all that prep work this evening.

1:51 PM MAN, Do I feel good!  I was not hungry at noon.  I have class at 12:30.  I usually try to eat a little something before I go to class as I don't want to be distracted by hunger.  It's a hard class...I need to be able to focus.  But, I was so not hungry I didn't eat.  Here it is almost 2 in the afternoon and I am just starting to feel hungry.  This is pretty darn cool.  I have had a pretty productive morning, my mood is great, my focus is pretty great,...I like it!  For lunch I have mixed greens with the final bit of Monday steak. Broccoli, Cauliflower, carrots, and bell peppers all cut up into pieces I can eat with my fingers to prolong the eating process.  Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil as dressing.  I have a grapefruit too, but I don't think I will be eating it with lunch.

8:47 PM  Well hello irritability! You came out of no where and you came in fast.  Not sure if Whole30 invited you in or if the monthly hormones did.  It does not matter, you are simply not welcome here!

Another unexpected dinner out tonight.  This time is was Mexican.  I rocked it!  I resisted chips and even the salsa as I didn't now if there was sugar in it or not.  I had pollo loco and asked for no rice and to add extra salad.  For those of you who don't know what pollo loco is...think sliced pieces of grilled chicken breasts that have been cooked with a green lettuce salad with generous slices of onion, tomato, and avocado.  Lots of food.  I am full! 

I did at least 2 wogging (walk/jogging) miles tonight.  Normally I do 3 - time didn't allow for it.  I was hoping I would feel better while wogging, it was ok, maybe I am hoping too soon. 

Overall though - the eating is rather simple and pleasurable.  I am not having any cravings at all.  I am only tempted to nibble - and that's just out of habit.   I am happy to not be tracking calories or points or what ever.

Day 4 - DONE!

Day 3 Whole30 - Could get interesting

9:11 AM - I slept good last night.  I woke up before my 5:45 alarm.  I didn't get out of bed until 6:15 but I was awake 30 minutes earlier.  6:15 is still earlier than normal for me which is great as I would love to have less rushed mornings.  I do know that preparation the night before would sure help the morning activities - yet, I resist, why?  I have no idea!  I am working on this shift.  Even though I got up earlier today we were still rushing around, it is "Walk to School Day" for Miss Brandy so we needed to leave 10 - 15 minutes earlier.  Again, I thought I might miss breakfast and starve to death if I did (not that I was hungry - just panic at the thought of no food even though it's unrealistic).  Mentally I think if I miss breakfast I will think I have blown it for the day.  I stress over breakfast.  Today I put my breakfast on a small plate instead of a to go container...I took it to the bathroom thinking I could eat it while I was doing make up.  This would be an improvement over eating it the car, right? It's also a step towards getting to the table.  Well, I ended up eating it in the car.  LOL!

I read the timeline last night for Day 2 and 3.  And even though I told myself I would not read ahead, I did.  I am thinking I should just toss that time line.  Yikes!  I choose to believe the good vibrations are going to kick in early for me, I will not be the norm!

12:59 PM - Beautiful and wonderful lunch with one of my daughters today.  She asked last night if we could do lunch today.  I said yes but asked if  we could perhaps meet in the park and bring our lunches? She was totally supportive and agreeable.  It was so nice!  We got to sit, eat, talk, and have minimal distractions.  I can't believe how nice it was and kinda refreshing!  Thankful to have support.  Today I have received to encouraging messages from people.  Both have read the blog!  I can't even explain how much this helps me.  It helps my belief factor and my accountability!  Thank you ladies!  Oh - my lunch today was the last bit of leftover roast, brussell sprouts (do you know I love brussell sprouts?), a half a grapefruit and a couple pieces of cauliflower.  I am a bit full now.  I could have got by with less.

9:03 PM All in all another good day!  I made spaghetti for dinner.  The family had noodles and traditional sauce.  I made my own "sauce" which I kinda normally do anyway because I like big chunky vegies.  Instead of having noodles I shredded cabbage into long strips and cooked it. Added hamburger to my "sauce" and voila!  YUM!  I saved a bit of it just in case I wanted some after church.  I am glad I did because I have had the munchies.  I ate it and have just made me a cup of tea.  I am feeling a little antsy - I have asked my husband to help me clean the kitchen so I won't nibble on things I shouldn't.  Please don't get me wrong - I am not hungry at all.  Just so used to taking a nibble here and a nibble there. I didn't realize how much I do that until these past two days. 

I was a bit tired when I got home at 5:20.  I seriously took like a 15 minute snooze and was good to go.  I am not nearly has tired and out of it as I was last night.

I guess that's all for today folks. 

One more thing - I know its a little funky to comment on my blog...feel free to message me on facebook Denni Swepston - if you can't figure it out here.  I love hearing from you!

D. J.

Day 2 of Whole30 - holding my breath!

8:03 AM I got up earlier than normal today, I wanted to finish picking up before the housekeeper came.  Yes, I pick up before the housekeeper came.  No, we are not rich folk, we have simply realized the benefits of having a housekeeper are well worth the small amount of money we pay her to come every other week.  Benefits like sanity, peace, being more accountable to keep the house picked up daily, more time for family and for homework. Anyway!  My getting up early was actually pretty easy.  I have been struggling to just get up on time since that evil daylight savings time.  I was pretty rushed though because I had a lot to get done.  Fortunately I had prepared my lunch last night after dinne - dinner leftovers.  But I was getting worried about having time to do breakfast.  I am happy to say I had plenty of time to scramble up and egg and dice up a half of an avocado.  Let me just say here - AVOCADOS MAKE ME HAPPY!!! It was perfectly ripe too! YUM!  Let's not forget my coffee with coconut oil.  This is living!

I am a little worried about my day - but I should be!  Today I have class at lunch time and class at dinner time.  I brought plenty of leftovers and will just have to choose the right times to eat.  I will also have to remind myself that I will not die of starvation in the middle of the day!

12:09 PM - Super productive day so far at work!  I actually began to feel hungry, like feel the empty in my stomach hungry about 30 minutes ago.  I think most days I really don't experience getting hungry.  So I went ahead and ate a little meal. A small amount of each; leftover roast, carrots and brussel sprouts. All is well.

5:07 PM - Wow - a super productive afternoon as well.  Somehow I didn't have that 3:00 munchy craving or desire to take a nap! Wowzers!  Almost time for my 5:30 Class.  Feeling a little hungry but not enough to want to eat.

8:45 PM.  Hmmm.  Shortly after my 5:07 update I started fading.  Just feeling kinda tired.  Thank goodness my night class was much shorter than normal.  My hubby wanted to go out for dinner.  He was very supportive in discussing options with me.  I didn't plan to eat out at all this week.  We chose Mazzios because I thought I could navigate the salad bar pretty well and I knew they usually have boiled eggs on the salad bar....Protein, check!  Who knew it would be buffet night!  It actually wasn't too hard.  I had salad, carrots, broccoli, eggs and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  I don't know if I was feeling deprived or just unsatiated but shortly after we got home I warmed up just a bit of leftover steak bites and diced up 1/2 of an avocado.  That did it!  But still tired.  So I am typing to you from my bed.  I will be asleep soon!

Day 2 - DONE!

Until tomorrow.

Day 1 Whole30 and Away we go!

8:58 AM Oh holy cow!  This morning I scrambled some eggs with some diced cooked steak (that I cooked last night) and I cooked it in just a bit of olive oil.  I thought it would be pretty smart to put into like a lettuce wrap.  I used red lettuce leaves.  Let me just say that doesn't work!  About 1/4 of my protein fell out of the top and bottom an onto my car floor! Yes, I know I am suppose to eat at a table - but I eat in my car everyday on the way to work!  Baby steps, I plan to make the transition to my table.  For a brief second or two when I lost that portion of my protein I had a thought that I could possibly die from starvation!  Fortunatly that passed quickly.  There was enough moisture that it leaked out of my wrap, through my paper towel and all over my hand...remember I am driving...ugh! A mess. But I successfully ate the rest and am satified and know my tummy is full enough.  I also had coffee - added coconut oil to it.  If you haven't tried coconut oil in your coffee yet - it is a must!  I heard about this about a year a ago and have been doing it ever since.  YUM!  I haven't read yet if coffee is ok or not? I am assuming it is at this point.

I have that pizza party this afternoon.  I have a salad of organic greens, a sliced bell pepper, carrot sticks, cauliflower and some of the steak.  In a seperate container I have vinegar and oil to add when it is time to eat it.  I purposesly did not dice up the vegies as I plan to eat them with my fingers.  I think this should prolong the eating process and help me to emotionally feel like I have eaten a lot in addition to giving my body time to register that it is full/satisfied.

More later!  Happy Monday.

1: 55 PM Lunch went very well.  My plan with cutting my vegies into strips worked beautifully.  I was the last one to finish eating so I did not have to watch everyone else eating their pizza!  We will have cake shortly to finish up the celebration.  I have a boiled egg and half a grapefruit to eat while everyone else eat their cake.  I don't feel like I am depriving myself.  I don't feel resentful that I am not eating pizza or cake.  I am good!

10:50 PM Day 1 is under my belt.  It was relatively easy.  Dinner was roast, carrots and brussel sprouts..  My 7 year old and I ate at the table.  She was excited about that, so I was too.  It was very nice.

Tonight had normal stresses, getting the 7 year old through her night time routine at her normal unchanging speed of "mosey" makes me irritable.  Husband worked late which is fine but came in the house and immediately started grumping about his day.  That stresses me.  But even with the stress I didn't do anything but keep busy with herding the mosier along and picking up house. Hubby started not feeling well and said he may want t o go to the ER.  In our 25 years of marriage he hasn't even gone to the doctor but maybe 5 times.  Thankfully he seems to be resting ok now. 

I have read that day 2 and 3 can be a bit hairy...I am hoping I will be an exception to the rule! 

Until Day 2 my lovelies!

D. J.

The day/night before Whole30!

Hello again.  I am excited and nervous about starting Whole30 tomorrow.  I feel like I have prepped pretty well.  I took before pictures, weighed and measured.  Even though we had a busy family filled day due to Easter, I went to the grocery store at about 8pm.  I had made my menu for every meal and prepared a shopping list.  Just FYI - I spent $100 for groceries - just food items - for the week.  I have myself, my husband and one daughter at home.  I took time to prep some vegies and fruit.  Out of curiosity I timed it.  To prep broccoli, cauliflower, one bell pepper, two pounds of carrots, 4 potatoes (not for me, they went in with the roast for dinner tomorrow) and a cantaloupe in about 30 minutes. I don't think that's too bad.  I purposely put ziplocks of some of the vegies in the frig at eye level.  I also browned up some steak bits and prepared my lunch for tomorrow while doing all this. 

Another piece of prep work I have done the past 2 days  was to start minimizing my carbs/sugars.  I hope this will make any withdrawals a little less harsh.  Hopefully.

I haven't read enough of the book to feel completely ready...but I do believe I have the basics down.  This is one reason I only bought a week of groceries.  I imagine I will learn more and have a modified plan for next week.  I also hope to run across a recipe or two that I would like to try.

I have two events this week that I am trying to be especially prepared for.  Tomorrow we are having a pizza party to celebrate a coworkers birthday.  Like I said earlier I prepared my lunch so I should totally be good to go!  Friday and Saturday I am going to a womens retreat with my sister.  I have a list of foods to pack that should get me through any situation.  Plus I told my sister that I am on this plan and I know she will be supportive. 

So long for now - I will be back tomorrow night!

D. J.

Well Hello Again, Let's get this Blogging Started Again!

Well I have been insanely busy, wasn't having a lot of hits on my blog so I stopped blogging.  But recently I have started missing it and the outlet it gives me...So I hope I get several who will interact, and I hope to be of help to others, but if I don't, it helps me and that's still a good thing!

I am getting prepared to start a 30 day journey of what some might say is a "drastic" change to my eating.  I am still battling my weight issue.  I am convinced there is an eating/activity lifestyle that suits me AND benefits my health...I simply haven't found it. I feel like I am pretty in touch with my body signals, more in touch than say 10 years ago.  That's progress.  I know I don't feel good when I eat sweets - fortunately I don't have a love affair with sweets.  However I do love bread!  Basically the same affect.

In the past year "ish" under the direction of my doctor I have gone on a couple of medications to address some PCOS issues.  I read A LOT!  I have read that diet can actually play a part in the PCOS symptoms.  I would much rather change my eating instead of being on the medication.

I am experiencing more aches and pains.  Some would chalk it up to getting older.  I believe it could just be my eating choices catching up with me and that by changing my eating choices I would reverse some of the issues. 

I read a little bit about the Whole30 about a month ago.  More recently I read a young lady's blog about her Whole30 experience that she recently completed.  She was a great little blogger.  She blogged almost every day of her 30 day journey! She posted pictures of each meal, which look doable and  delectable, and while she struggled emotionally she did it!  Her posts convinced me to try it. 

I know it sounds funny but I feel like I am on the brink of success with my health.  I am rather excited about starting Whole30 on Monday.  I am going to attempt to post daily and post meal pics as she did.  If not daily, often.  I will take measurements tomorrow. I will weigh Monday morning.  Then under the instruction of the book - I will have my hubby hide my scale for the next 30 days.  The book stresses preparation.  Tomorrow will be about making 2 weeks of menus and to go grocery shopping.  Prep of the foods also on Saturday and Sunday.  From now until Monday morning I will be doing a lot more reading and prepping.  I really am excited.  A little scared.  You know - I don't want to fail.  I have told many that I am doing this, family and friends.  I am looking for accountability more than encouragement.  Sometimes family isn't the best to offer encouragement - lol! 

I have more to say - but perhaps I should save that for tomorrow.

Talk to you soon!