I've made it a whole week on my Whole30! With the exception of a 1 tbs Sriracha mistake (it has a little sugar) I think I've stuck to it 99.9%. Not a single piece off bread, pasta, grain, legume, or sugar! There have been some moments of intense cravings, but I've tried to react to these "mindfully" by just acknowledging the craving and feeling how those cravings arise and dissipate.
Tomorrow I start my Spring semester of classes. I have a mandatory $300 meal plan at my university, so I'll be trying to look for things on campus that fit into my Whole30. Challenge accepted.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Day 3
10% to my goal in the Whole30! Today was good and I felt better than I have the past couple of days. I got to try out my second Paleo recipe: Shredded pork tenderloin with caramelized plantains and baked sweet potatoes. Now, while I'm sure that the recipe I followed is a good one, the mashed plantains didn't work out so well in my blender. However, the whole fried plantains were good and I wish that I hadn't "wasted" the ones that I mashed. Only having cooked plantains once before (and then with very un-Paleo rum and sugar) the problem could have been my lack of experience in choosing and prepping suitable plantains.
If you'd like to try the recipe I found it at PaleOMG: http://paleomg.com/easy-shredded-pork-caramelized-mashed-plantains/
Tomorrow morning I'm attending my first meeting of Vipassana meditation at a local Unitarian Fellowship. I've been interested in mindfulness meditation for years and have attended a small workshop as well as meditated on my own a few times. If you'd like to find out more about this type of meditation, I HIGHLY recommend "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana. Which is also available in free PDF format here at Urban Dharma.
If you'd like to try the recipe I found it at PaleOMG: http://paleomg.com/easy-shredded-pork-caramelized-mashed-plantains/
Tomorrow morning I'm attending my first meeting of Vipassana meditation at a local Unitarian Fellowship. I've been interested in mindfulness meditation for years and have attended a small workshop as well as meditated on my own a few times. If you'd like to find out more about this type of meditation, I HIGHLY recommend "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana. Which is also available in free PDF format here at Urban Dharma.
Day 2
Today I got the chance to try out a new recipe. I made Coconut Curry Chicken in the crockpot and sauteed some zucchini and yellow squash for the side. While I didn't follow this recipe exactly, this is a good facsimile of what I did http://fastpaleo.com/slow-cooker-chicken-curry/
I used 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced button mushrooms, a quartered Vidalia onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 can coconut milk, 1/2 can chicken broth, juice from 1/2 a lime, 2 tbsp Thai Kitchen red curry paste, 1tsp cumin, black pepper and salt. Threw it all into the crockpot and cooked on high for about an hour and then low for about 3 1/2 hours.
It was super easy and very delicious. Tomorrow I'm making shredded pork loin with caramelized plantains so check back for that recipe and the results.
I woke up with a lingering headache from yesterday which persisted most of the day in spite of drinking lots of water and taking a Goody's powder when desperate. Fortunately if finally eased up.
I'm taking it easy with physical activity this week until my body begins to adjust to the new way of eating, but I played some Just Dance Kids 2 with my son on the Xbox Kinect. I'm not ashamed to admit that I worked up a sweat.
I used 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced button mushrooms, a quartered Vidalia onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 can coconut milk, 1/2 can chicken broth, juice from 1/2 a lime, 2 tbsp Thai Kitchen red curry paste, 1tsp cumin, black pepper and salt. Threw it all into the crockpot and cooked on high for about an hour and then low for about 3 1/2 hours.
It was super easy and very delicious. Tomorrow I'm making shredded pork loin with caramelized plantains so check back for that recipe and the results.
I woke up with a lingering headache from yesterday which persisted most of the day in spite of drinking lots of water and taking a Goody's powder when desperate. Fortunately if finally eased up.
I'm taking it easy with physical activity this week until my body begins to adjust to the new way of eating, but I played some Just Dance Kids 2 with my son on the Xbox Kinect. I'm not ashamed to admit that I worked up a sweat.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Day 1
Yesterday I joined the Whole9 Forum and made a post with a little about my background and linking other forum participants to my blog here. If you're visiting from the forum, welcome! I hope that my small contribution helps.
Perhaps you're wondering who I am and how I got to the point of radically changing my eating habits. I grew up in a small rural town in North Alabama. My family ate a diet that is pretty standard for the region: lots of fried foods, sugary sodas (remember 3-liter bottles?), pasta, bread, bread, & BREAD. One of my favorite things as a kid was making a "sandwich" from a slice of white bread stuffed with Hamburger Helper and mashed potatoes.
I was overweight as far back as I can remember and although I was active in seasonal sports I was always one of the "fat kids". I was teased and bullied for my weight and developed a lot of negative emotions surrounding food. I simultaneously loathed my fatty body while turning to binge eating as emotional comfort. A vicious cycle if ever there was one.
I always told myself that the day I weighed over 300lbs would be my "breaking point". That day came when I was around 19 years old. My heart sank when I stepped onto an industrial digital scale at my dad's small manufacturing business and 310lbs appeared on the readout.
I cut out fried foods, sodas and began walking a few miles several times a week. Eventually I was able to jog and finally run as well. I lost weight but still hovered in the mid-200s over the next few years in which I got married and saw the birth of my son.
In early 2005, I decided to enlist in the US Air Force to get funding for college and make more money to support my family. When I visited a recruiter the first time I weighed 270lbs. This was nearly 60lbs over the 202lb weight limit (for my 6' 2" height) that I would have to meet before I could process into the Air Force from an enlistment center. I quit my full-time job and got two part-time jobs so that I could fit twice daily workouts into my day. I ate grilled chicken, raw broccoli and protein shakes until I gagged (literally at times) but it worked. At the time I shipped off to Basic Training I weighed 198lbs.
During the course of my Air Force career, one of my roommates turned me on to CrossFit. The method embodied many of my own conclusions about fitness and I began incorporating CF training into my workouts. I got into the best shape of my life but disaster struck as my marriage began to fall apart. I became depressed, stopped exercising, drank heavily, and returned to poor eating habits.
My enlistment ended in December of 2009, but my depression and poor eating habits continued. Additionally, I sustained injuries during my service which made working out even more difficult as I became afraid of the pain of re-injury. This resulted in eventually being designated a disabled veteran and a diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine and left ankle.
I went back to college in Fall of 2010 and while I've had ups and downs, some degree of depression persisted. Aches and pains became a daily routine which caused lots of irritability and sedentary living. Almost every time I moved or even changed sitting positions everything from my neck to my knees hurt, causing me to illicit groans and what my girlfriend has termed "dad noises". Additionally, I began taking Zantac and Alka-seltzer on a regular basis to fight my chronic acid reflux and heartburn.
By the 2nd half of 2012, my depression reached an all-time low. I spent weeks barely functioning and many days I'd hardly get out of bed. I knew that eating healthy food and exercising would help but I couldn't muster even the most basic motivation to take on those tasks. Everything was overwhelming. Finally, I realized that I had to do something and sought help through the VA. Since beginning treatment in the last month, I've been able to begin rebuilding the parts of my life which I've neglected.
I'm looking forward to the next 29 days and I know that I am investing in my own long-term wellness. I am confident because I have overcome so many obstacles to get to where I am now. I'm armed with that experience as well as the knowledge that I need for success.
Perhaps you're wondering who I am and how I got to the point of radically changing my eating habits. I grew up in a small rural town in North Alabama. My family ate a diet that is pretty standard for the region: lots of fried foods, sugary sodas (remember 3-liter bottles?), pasta, bread, bread, & BREAD. One of my favorite things as a kid was making a "sandwich" from a slice of white bread stuffed with Hamburger Helper and mashed potatoes.
I was overweight as far back as I can remember and although I was active in seasonal sports I was always one of the "fat kids". I was teased and bullied for my weight and developed a lot of negative emotions surrounding food. I simultaneously loathed my fatty body while turning to binge eating as emotional comfort. A vicious cycle if ever there was one.
I always told myself that the day I weighed over 300lbs would be my "breaking point". That day came when I was around 19 years old. My heart sank when I stepped onto an industrial digital scale at my dad's small manufacturing business and 310lbs appeared on the readout.
I cut out fried foods, sodas and began walking a few miles several times a week. Eventually I was able to jog and finally run as well. I lost weight but still hovered in the mid-200s over the next few years in which I got married and saw the birth of my son.
In early 2005, I decided to enlist in the US Air Force to get funding for college and make more money to support my family. When I visited a recruiter the first time I weighed 270lbs. This was nearly 60lbs over the 202lb weight limit (for my 6' 2" height) that I would have to meet before I could process into the Air Force from an enlistment center. I quit my full-time job and got two part-time jobs so that I could fit twice daily workouts into my day. I ate grilled chicken, raw broccoli and protein shakes until I gagged (literally at times) but it worked. At the time I shipped off to Basic Training I weighed 198lbs.
During the course of my Air Force career, one of my roommates turned me on to CrossFit. The method embodied many of my own conclusions about fitness and I began incorporating CF training into my workouts. I got into the best shape of my life but disaster struck as my marriage began to fall apart. I became depressed, stopped exercising, drank heavily, and returned to poor eating habits.
My enlistment ended in December of 2009, but my depression and poor eating habits continued. Additionally, I sustained injuries during my service which made working out even more difficult as I became afraid of the pain of re-injury. This resulted in eventually being designated a disabled veteran and a diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine and left ankle.
I went back to college in Fall of 2010 and while I've had ups and downs, some degree of depression persisted. Aches and pains became a daily routine which caused lots of irritability and sedentary living. Almost every time I moved or even changed sitting positions everything from my neck to my knees hurt, causing me to illicit groans and what my girlfriend has termed "dad noises". Additionally, I began taking Zantac and Alka-seltzer on a regular basis to fight my chronic acid reflux and heartburn.
By the 2nd half of 2012, my depression reached an all-time low. I spent weeks barely functioning and many days I'd hardly get out of bed. I knew that eating healthy food and exercising would help but I couldn't muster even the most basic motivation to take on those tasks. Everything was overwhelming. Finally, I realized that I had to do something and sought help through the VA. Since beginning treatment in the last month, I've been able to begin rebuilding the parts of my life which I've neglected.
I'm looking forward to the next 29 days and I know that I am investing in my own long-term wellness. I am confident because I have overcome so many obstacles to get to where I am now. I'm armed with that experience as well as the knowledge that I need for success.
Day 0
Today is my Zero Day for starting the Whole30 Program which is based on the Paleo approach to eating. It's a strict 30 day initiation to break Standard American Diet (SAD) habits of eating primarily grain-based carbs and sugars.
I'll be using the free download resources including shopping lists and meal templates located at the bottom of the page here: http://whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/
I've also got the It Starts With Food e-book which is available for purchase at the link above as well.
I also recently purchased the Paleo Miracle: 50 Real Stories of Health Transformation.
My beginning stats are as follows along with my "Before" photos. I'll include more biographical information in subsequent posts.
Age: 30
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 290.4lbs
Chest: 50 1/2"
Waist: 52"
Neck: 17"
Bicep: 18"
Thigh: 30"
I'll be using the free download resources including shopping lists and meal templates located at the bottom of the page here: http://whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/
I've also got the It Starts With Food e-book which is available for purchase at the link above as well.
I also recently purchased the Paleo Miracle: 50 Real Stories of Health Transformation.
My beginning stats are as follows along with my "Before" photos. I'll include more biographical information in subsequent posts.
Age: 30
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 290.4lbs
Chest: 50 1/2"
Waist: 52"
Neck: 17"
Bicep: 18"
Thigh: 30"
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