Ok full disclosure (and maybe TMI): I put just a splash of milk in my coffee tonight bc I couldn't take another black coffee. That was about an hour and a half ago. And I've just spent more time in bathroom just now than I have in the past month. Who would've thought! ONE tiny splash. Not saying I feel awful or anything, but my stomach definitely noticed. I did not expect that. Will be interesting to see what happens on the day I decide to reintro dairy and have it at every meal. Yikes 😨.

So apparently you're not supposed to just go hog wild on Day 31 and eat all the gluten, sugary snacks, and unrecognizable ingredients that you can shove in your pie hole.  There is a method to reintroducing the foods from which you've abstained your diet (aka the healthier ones like grains, dairy, and legumes).  So I have a plan - Day 31 my reintro food is alcohol.  Yep, totally not recommended but totally necessary since it's the only thing I've been craving and it's the Superbowl!  Then I will go back to Whole30 for 2 days.  Then I'll try non-gluten grains, gluten grains, and dairy.  I don't expect much negative reaction but we'll see.  Hopefully these things don't make me feel like crap.

Cornish hen I cooked the other night - it was delicious!  Greasy though.

Dinner tonight:

I've been delinquent in blogging, mainly because I don't have a lot to report.  Feeling good, no big revelations, and not much new and exciting in the food department.  But as I go into the last week of my Whole30, I've been starting to reflect on the benefits I've seen, what I've learned, what habits I'll continue with going forward, and what I won't continue with after the 30 days.  This reflection also helps with motivation in the last several days, especially as I'm hankering for a beer after a day of snowboarding, and getting tired of reading the ingredient list on EVERYTHING.

Physical Benefits / Results:

• Definitely more cut/lean with especially tighter stomach and little bloating.  This I like.  However, still no 6-pack and if I don't have one now, it's safe to say that may be an unreasonable goal in my lifetime.
• Not getting ravenous between meals.  Prior to Whole30, I would often get extremely hungry ("must get food in me now!") before dinner.  Often it would be after work or after going to gym, and I would get critically  hungry before making it home and cooking dinner.   Eating more fats at meals and bringing a post-WO snack helps.  Now I'm hungry by the time I get dinner, but I don't get that headache-y, cranky feeling.  Nice!
• Feeling good, but not markedly different than how I normally feel when I eat healthily.  It doesn't seem that cutting out the extra sugar, sweeteners, preservatives, or any of the potential intolerances (gluten, dairy, legumes) have made much of a difference.  And I already know how alcohol affects me and makes me feel, and when it's worth it to make the trade-off.
  
  Psychological Benefits / Results / Lessons:
  

• Less stress over what to eat - Having guidelines over what I can and can't eat, following the program for meals/snacks, and preparing meals ahead of time means less stress and less thinking in general over what to eat or not eat.  Liberating even - don't even have to think about that bite of cake, or an extra bowl of cereal.  However, with this liberation comes with a trade-off of the freedom to eat as I like, with the occasional sandwich or piece of Brie.

• Also less anxiety over what I've eaten - don't need to feel any guilt over any poor choices, or overeating anything much.  Even when I do go on a carrot bender, or crack a few too many pistachios, I know that this is nothing in the grand scheme of the month.  Again, liberating.
• Lastly, trying to use Whole30 to view food as necessary fuel for my body (that can and should also be extremely delicious!) - and thinking about everything I eat with the nutrition it'll give me in mind.  I already do this to some extent, but Whole30 has forced me to think more about the timing of foods throughout the day and how they'll affect my energy levels, mood, appetite, and workouts.  And not just viewing nutrition as the sum of the foods I've eaten in a day.  Also with this goes paying more attention to how my body responds to food, and when I need more carbs/fats/protein.
  

What I Will (and Won't) Continue:

- Eating healthy fats at meals.  Definitely continue.  Not only are avocado, olive oil, and nuts delicious, but I do feel remarkedly more satisfied after a meal and stay fuller longer.
- Eating sweet potatoes.  They're just plain delicious and my boyfriend loves them too.  I'll continue to buy and cook them as a starchy nutritious form of carbs.  Also parsnips - they are cheap, tasty, and way easier to prepare than butternut squash.  Yum.
- Post-WO snacks.  I previously hadn't paid much attention to the advice of eating within 15-20 after working out, and instead waiting until I got home to eat.  However now I've been bringing a post-WO snack along for the ride home.  Not only better for recovery, but I'm not a ravenous beast until I can get ahold of dinner.
- *Trying* to have a sit-down, full plated meal each time, and not snacking as much between or snagging random bites of food.  I'll admit I haven't been so great at this, and still sneak grapes, carrots, broccoli, etc. out of the fridge often.  However I've been trying harder to sit down, eat my meal (and pay attention while doing it), and then put the food away until next meal.
- I'll continue eating mostly (but not entirely) paleo after the 30.  I'll continue to read ingredients to minimize additives, added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other 'not so great for you' ingredients.  However I'm not going to be a nazi about it, and I'm sure I'll go back to some artificial sweetener (black coffee is just not that tasty).  I also plan to reintroduce some whole grains, bread, and yes even cereal.  I'm sorry I just love it too much.  And I plan to reintro the limited amount of dairy I ate, along with limited legumes (occasional hummus or beans in soup.)
- And finally, I'll probably more attention now to the quality of meats, seafood and produce I buy.  I've always conceptually understood why organic/wild caught/grass-fed/etc is better, but never really practiced it.  Now I'm more aware that not only is there less "bad stuff" in these versions, but there's more nutrition (and better taste!) so you're getting more bang for your buck.

Ok, long post (again)... and getting hungry

Yesterday as I left for work, I felt extra tired and grumpy.  I thought it was just the Monday blahs, but then it dawned on me - I had eaten next to zero carbs the day before.  Other than a few bites of sweet potato at lunch, my only fruit consisted lemon slices and there were no other starchy veggies to be had on Sunday.  So on my commute I ate a banana and holy moley... I felt way better!  More energy, not cranky, and not hungry.  They say not to eat fruit in the morning and beware the sugar rush/crash, but that banana did wonders.  I felt good the rest of the day at work and stayed satisfied until lunchtime.

A similar thing happened on Thursday night.  I was acting super irritated and angry for no reason, had no energy at the rock gym earlier, but didn't feel particularly hungry.  It was bedtime and I started to beat myself up for eating right before bedtime, but figured I could use some carbs (baked sweet potato and butternut squash).  Again, total transformation.  Felt way better, happier, etc. and felt energetic enough the next day for a good gym session.

I've learned my lesson (hopefully).  Do not go too low-carb.  Do not neglect sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips, and fruits.  Do not hit things with fists and yell at boyfriend when cranky; try eating a banana.  No washboard stomach is worth feeling like a sugar-starved demon.

Yesterday in addition to the banana, I had squash with lunch, and sweet potato with dinner.  Much improved.  Today, there was honeydew with lunch and there will be sweet potato with dinner.  (At least half of one, since there's only 1 left in the cabinet, and the bf might claim the other half :)).

My progress on Whole30 can be tracked by countdown to the Superbowl.  It just so happens that the first day after I complete the 30 is Superbowl Sunday.  I didn't plan it this way, but it was a teensy factor in deciding to start Friday, Jan. 3 rather than the following Monday.  If I started Jan. 6, Day 31 would find me by myself in a hotel room on business travel, probably scarfing girl scout cookies and wine, wallowing in this depressing "celebration".  As it stands, Day 31 shall find me at a friend's superbowl party, probably scarfing Tostitos and beers, but happy since I'll be with friends and not indulging alone.  (I know you're supposed to ease back into regular eating, and not go all out with a sugar-and-alcohol-fueled scarf fest.  But c'mon, it's Superbowl Sunday... and if there's one thing I truly miss on this diet, it's good beer.)

While we're on the subject, here are a few things I miss that I will be happy to re-introduce:  (in moderation of course, yada yada)

• Good beer, wine, sake, alcohol in general - No I'm not an alcoholic, but the relaxation properties, experience and social aspects of enjoying a good beverage (or several) with friends or on the couch Friday night cannot be understated.  Nor can they be replaced by anything Whole30 compliant, and I don't wish to remove them from my life.   Sorry, hot tea just doesn't cut it.
• Is it sad that I'm having trouble with my number 2 food I miss, which is clearly a distant second to a really good  beer?

After feeling like I was eating too much last week, now feeling like I'm not eating enough at meals leading to night time snacking. No good. This is what I'm trying to get away from - munching at night before bed. Just ate a bunch of sweet potato, parsnip and butternut squash. Feeling stuffed 😕.

Also tired this week.. No energy at climbing tonight. Hope the extra carbs help for tomorrow.

On other hand, looking very cut. Even my muscles have muscles!

They weren't kidding when they said you spend a lot of time in the kitchen!  This is nothing new to me, since I grocery shop and cook a lot anyway, but it takes it to another level when you try to shop for and prepare 3 homemade meals a day.  9 hour workdays, 1-2 hour workouts/climbing sessions, and a 45 min commute don't leave a lot of extra time in the day to prep meals AND relax.

My fridge was completely depleted this morning, but now is restocked thanks to Trader Joe's.  Whoa produce!

Made it through the ski trip! Turned down some tasty blue cheese, Saranacs, chex mix and lasagna, but enjoyed the foods I brought including chix stir fry, egg casserole, and a lot of arugula and avocado. Yum.

Feeling good and a also not getting hungry or more importantly not hangry and cranky pants between meals. Think I was in a good mood all weekend! Again, weekend is the key word there. 😄

I say "ski" in quotes b/c today was a rain out. But hoping to hit the slopes in full force tomorrow!

Feeling good. Good energy throughout the day both today and yesterday. Could be bc it's the weekend and I'm fairly well rested. But woke up today at 10am feeling good, and other than a short nap been alert and energetic. Did a quick 30 min workout and felt pretty sprightly.

Also feeling/looking slightly more cut, especially in the stomach region. And not feeling bloated. Go whole30 working your magic.

Not drinking definitely helps a ton... Both with feeling good in the morning and with non-bloaty tummy. But the whole program seems to be as advertised so far. Haven't hit any real slumps or cranky pants periods yet and it's almost the 10 day mark.

Sleepy now. Excited to do some snowboarding tomorrow!

Wouldn't say it's super "easy" not drinking beers or sharing in the lasagna and chex mix... But it's pretty simple. Not on the plan, don't been have to think about it. And I brought a TON of good food for me - salad, veggies, smoked salmon, chix, avocado, almonds, cashews, parsnip, squash, eggs, blackberries, yummm. I'd rather eat that than lasagna any day!

Traveling is rough. I'm tired, bored, have long days at work, and no one around at night. I don't have any particular cravings, but not gonna lie... Giving up and going for a beer tomorrow night to look forward to has crossed my mind. Not gonna do it though! Maybe this is the tough Day 6-10 slump they warned of. But man this is getting tiring already! Or maybe I'm just sleepy.

P.S. Watching hours of TLC's "My Strange Addiction" does NOT help with healthy behavior thoughts!