Whole 30 Day 3

Day 3: Wednesday January 7, 2015

Woke up hungry this morning. They say that's a good sign that things are working in the body so I'll take it. My littlest lady work up a few times in the night - we fed at 1 am so I was extra tired in the morning. At 7 months she sleeps through the night quite a bit so when she doesn't I feel it for sure.

Breakfast: Two runny eggs - NO hot sauce this time, tomatoes, romain (the hubs had it chopped so I threw it on the plate, and half an avocado. Yesterday I was overly hungry so I thought I would add a little more avocado today to see if that helped. I also had 4 apple slices and a big glass of water. I was dying of thirst.

Coffee: I couldn't resist after a super late night. Had about 6 oz at 9 am.

Lunch: Sweet potato cooked in the microwave (4 minutes - couldn't be easier). I was going to do a half of a sweet potato but yesterday I was so hungry I decided to do the whole thing. I topped it with the homemade meat sauce I made for yesterdays spaghetti squash! Boom - two for one.

Dinner: Crock-pot turkey breast from our local butcher (Way better quality than the regular grocery store) Steamed broccoli with a pinch of salt, sauteed zucchini (olive oil, salt and pepper) and a side of pineapple. I have to say my 3 year old at this meal with us - all but the broccoli because she had that for lunch. She LOVED it.

Exercise: I work about an 45-hour away from home so it's a struggle to find the time with a long commute but I got the new Fit Bit for Christmas and so I've been trying to get my steps in everyday. Today I decided to take two quick 10 minute breaks at work to walk around the building. Every little bit helps right? I also did 3 miles on the treadmill after the girls went to bed.

Extras: I ate an apple - half in the morning and half at night (on the way home from work). I also had a small handful of nuts pre-workout.

Whole 30 Day 2

It's Tuesday January 6th

Today I'm struggling with cravings. I just want to eat - just because. Uh! Annoying.

Breakfast: Two runny eggs with hot sauce, tomatoes and avocado on a bed of spring greens (you'll see me eat this a LOT). I need to ditch the hot sauce - my acid reflux totally can't handle it.

Around 10 I really really wanted to eat something...I didn't though (small victory).

Lunch: Leftover brussels sprouts with slivered almonds, asparagus, roasted chicken, cranberries with a balsamic glaze over a bed of arugula & a few blackberries. I needed to put more chicken on it today because yesterday it didn't fill me up enough. I brought some tuna to work just in case.

Dinner: Spaghetti squash with homemade tomato sauce (sauteed tomatoes and onions with two cans crush tomatoes - dried oregano and basil I grew and dried, garlic powder and salt and pepper) with ground turkey. YUM - this is a satisfying meal. I highly recommend. I didn't take a plated photo so here are two from the leftovers. I kept them separate so I could use the sauce for other purposes.

  Caffeine: I drank black coffee at 10 - my insides are burning. I seriously cannot drink this stuff. 

Exercise: 2.3 miles on the treadmill. I did a steep incline to burn more calories.

Pre-workout protein: Two eggs. I was literally starving. I didn't eat enough throughout the day. I have to remember I'm breastfeeding and that can burn anywhere from 300-600 calories so I need to have one snack during the day. This is a learning curve for sure. I'm hoping by the end I have a better handle on it.

How I felt:
I feel like a food addict today - I am wanting to eat for no reason. It's taking a lot of self control to make it hour to hour without making a mistake. I am most excited that I can get over this by the end of the program. Food should be something to savor and enjoy, not to crave and yet dread. I gotta get out of my head!

Whole 30 Day 1

I started the Whole 30 plan on Monday, January 5th 2015.

Day 1
The hubs and I had recently eliminated a lot of processed food from our lives and we had made a lot of healthy changes to our diet and out lifestyle so the switch to Whole 30 isn't that crazy...however it is still a big change. I didn't realize how much of a snacker I was. I would have just a little of this or that to get me through the day. The book (here) talks about why you should avoid having snacks on the program it it me that I would usually go for a sugary snack (fruit or a fruit bar). I was sugar dependent and didn't even realize it. I thought I was being super healthy because I was going for a banana not realizing that it wasn't always because I was hungry it was because I was satisfying a craving. I had an unhealthy RELATIONSHIP with food - with sugar. Holy light bulb going off!

I have to say that I realize that a banana is not a terrible choice but I was mindlessly grabbing for something sugary and that isn't super healthy...if you are still confused I encourage you to read the book. A light bulb will go off for you too I think!

What I ate and how I felt:

Pre-Breakfast: Started the day with a big glass of water (I used to wake up and drink soda - don't shame me!!!)

Breakfast: Two runny eggs over a bed of arugula with sauteed onions and peppers with a spoonful of pico de gao and a little bit of avocado.


Lunch: Sauteed brussels sprouts with slivered almonds, roasted cranberries, left over roasted asparagus, roasted chicken (leftover) with a balsamic reduction (I literally just de-glazed the pan I was roasting my brussels in by adding some balsamic vinegar and letting it cook for a few minutes. I put everything on a bed of arugula.

Dinner: Roasted Chicken (leftover) with steamed broccoli and carrots with a few blueberries. Not exciting but it was getting late and it was easy.

Confession - I kinda cheated...on the first day....I'm terrible. I was late coming home from work because it was snowing and it took me almost and hour and a half to commutte, so I was starving. I stopped by my local Aldi to grab some milk and a few veggies and a pint of blackberries that were super cheap. Long story short I ate the blackberries (ALL OF THEM). I decided not to beat myself up - they are blackberries and I am breastfeeding but I still feel guilty).

I realized I should start taking photos of my food. I'm going to do that from now on. My posts will look way prettier - hang in there with me.

How I felt:
I didn't want to hurt someone if that's what you're wondering. It was fine...but I had a crazy headache. I had a small cup of coffee right at noon and that helped and drank lots of water and that pretty much took care of it. I have a sensative GI tract so now I have crazy heartburn from the coffee. I'll have to switch to tea I suppose.

Exercise: Two miles on the treadmill. It was late when I did it so I didn't want to go crazy or I wouldn't sleep.

Whole 30 - Taking the Challenge

I kind of started a blog and then promptly stopped almost immediately but I'm going to give it another shot. I really want to document things for the kiddos (I have two not one now....so there's that).

WHOLE30
Whelp - I'm doing it...taking the Whole 30 challenge. I'm lucky enough to have my husband take part in the journey with me. Of course the main goal is to be healthier, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too. I recently had my second child and I just CANNOT loose the baby weight - I'm breastfeeding and I think that has something to do with it. No I'm not just making excuses - I'm stuck at the exact same weight I was after having my first child - I was stuck until I stopped breastfeeding (literally the exact same number on the scale!!). It's like my body knows I'm doing this other big deal thing (breastfeeding) and holds on to all the weight so I don't break through the plateau until that job is done. I'm hoping to breastfeed a few more months but I want to try to take the extra steps to get some of the weight off. (The goal is to breastfeed until she's a year old).

Insert Whole 30 - here I will give up grains, dairy, & sugar along with processed food. Whole 30 is a straight forward plan that doesn't allow for "cheats" or even stumbles. You have to be 100% committed and I think I need that level of strictness for me to make the changes I want to change.

What is it I want to change?


1.) Change my relationship with food so I am in control!
2.) Loose weight (duh! - it's not a weight loss plan but I'm hoping that is the side benefit)
3.) Give up cravings and my addiction to Diet Soda...aka cancer causing beverage (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Diet Mt. Dew....uh so bad for you but sooo good).
4.) Feel better - physically and mentally (I'm sick of always wearing long sleeves or a vest to cover up so people don't see how I look) - sad I know! I want to be confident and strong for my girls. I think it is so important to have a positive self image for not you yourself but for your little ones. The see and pick up on everything.
5.) I want my kiddos to be healthy - I've always worked hard at this and we are in good shape but we can do better. I want to have more meals at the table.

So there it is  - I want to be happier and healthier so I'm going for it.

I'll post before and after pictures at the end of the journey.

Cheers! (that better be with water, coffee or tea - no booze peeps!)

Daddy's and Daughter's

I posted a photo of my daughter playing in the pots & pans the other day but there's another photo from that afternoon I just have to share...Daddy had just come home from work say her playing in the pots and pans --- so I hid around the corner and captured this sweet little moment - I used my Canon 24-70 lens and had it zoomed in :) heart melting. There's just something about Daddy's and their daughter's.

xoxo - Janelle

Monday is for Realness! Photos of Real Life Stuff

This is what real life looks like. Pajama pants with a turtle-neck that clearly don't match with dancing shoes...stepping in bowls and pots and pans. That's my kinda real life and I love it.

Silly faces with my neice

Decorating a super nasty but super fun hello kitty cookie...we used our own icing but the cookie and candies we inedible...ick

Happy Monday! Keep it real :)

Valentine's Day Love

Happy February from my little sweetie pie! xoxo