So far here is my story:
My Typical Diet Before
I eat relatively healthily, and regularly. I'm a bit of a grazer, I'm always hungry. I rarely emotional eat. My active job as a fitness instructor requires A LOT of calories. I eat a fair few carbs. I love my skinny latte. I enjoy green smoothies and eat my vegetables. I cant eat spicy food. I've been a pescatarian for most of 2015. I've never liked meat (few exceptions).
In 2013 I completed the 30 day Sugar Free challenge, which really helped me to banish a few bad habits, like no sugar in coffee (that's why I went from one sugar in instant coffee to skinny lattes, no sugar), reducing my consumption of fruit juice (I now only have 200ml a couple times a week), and skipping desserts in restaurants.
Here is a typical day in the life of me:
Breakfast
- A bowl of granola with either natural full fat yogurt or skimmed milk
- A piece of fruit
- A skinny latte.
Lunch (I don't like lunch)
- This could be anything from a healthy salad, left over soup, a bowl of cereal, a sandwich if I'm desperate. Even resorting to a shop bought salad or sarnie if I'm passing and hungry.
- Green tea.
Before Class
- A bowl of cereal/granola (never more than two bowls a day) or some hummus/tzatziki with carrot sticks and wholegrain, seeded pitta bread, or fruit, or a protein shake, or on occasion a sneaky chocolate bar...
- A skinny latte.
Dinner (always after class)
- Fish or egg with salad or veg and either rice or potato. Dinner is always very plain, very basic.
After Dinner (yes it's late)
- My second bowl of cereal/granola if I've not already had one or a bowl of fruit salad with yogurt, or hummus, or anything listed above I've not already eaten loads of. I cannot go to bed hungry, ever!
Snacks
- I snack throughout the day, whenever I'm hungry. Fruit, ryvita with cream cheese, vegetable sticks, hummus, toast.
Water Consumption
- I drink around 2-3 litres of water a day.
Weak Areas
- I like chocolate, so will maybe give in a couple of times a week.
- I occasionally have energy drinks.
- I sometimes skip lunch.
Eating/Drinking Out and Treats
- I rarely eat out, but when I do it's usually fish with vegetables or salad, again fairly boring.
- I usually skip the starters (I'm not a savoury person), I usually don't fancy a dessert, I like a glass of wine with my meal (maybe half a bottle).
- I'm not a big drinker, I only consume alcohol on average about once every 6 weeks. Sometimes it becomes a bit of a night out, drinking too much like we all do, that would be once or twice a year.
- I always drink water between alcoholic beverages.
- I LOVE coffee, so if someone drags me into the local Costa, it wont be kicking and screaming, plus I'd usually go for a cake too.
- I don't like fast food, so if there really is no choice between Burger King or Boots, it'd be a Boots sandwich.
Starting the Whole30:
Reading the above, I still don't think my "before" diet is too bad. I eat bad food in moderation, we all deserve the finer things in life! My snacking seems to keep my energy levels high and hunger at bay but I still suffer with bad skin, bloating, fatigue etc that to be honest, I'm DONE with! Having considered the Whole30 for around a year, I finally thought I'd give it a go. I chose a date to start (6th September 2015), and that gave me a few days to begin weaning and planning.
Days -5 to -1 (1st to 5th September) - The weaning!
I used up any naughty food left in the house, such as oven chips, cereal, a chocolate bar, an energy drink. To be honest there wasn't much and most of this was gone after day -4. I began making my coffee black with a splash of milk, gradually reducing the milk used. I found the weaning process really helped, I walked through the shops not tempted by chocolate and felt proud, but boy was I in a bad mood by day -2! I had a headache. I cut back on cereal/granola. I planned and completed my first Whole30 food shop. My silly mistake was on my final day of freedom before starting the Whole30... I went to Costa, "treated" myself to a skinny vanilla latte and a almond and raspberry slice. It wasn't that great, and it was a take out so we rushed it. Within about 30 minutes my poor stomach was massively bloated and painful and I kicked myself over the decision to "treat" myself.
My First Food Shop:
My Second Food Shop:
Days 1 to 13
I could have broken down the days a bit more, but to be honest, the past two weeks have been a bit of a blur. I've been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. With the exception of one of the days, I've been fairly positive (everything went wrong that day). I've not been bloated. I haven't had as many breakouts. However, my energy levels are still yoyo-ing a bit, one minute I've got loads, the next I want a nap. According to the Whole30 timeline, tiger blood kicks in on day 16 for most people, so I'm really hoping the start of week three will be a turning point for me. I'm still hungry all the time. The Hartwig's ask you to find out if you're really hungry or just bored by asking yourself "Would I eat seabass and steamed broccoli right now?" My answer is ALWAYS yes, but do I want to cook it? NO! I need a chef!
I've so far done two big food shops (see above), and lots of little top up shops for fruit and veg. I also have started Abel and Cole boxes again from next week.
On day one, my cravings started... Not chocolate, not a skinny latte, but a chicken! For someone who gave up meat early in 2015 I found this weird. We went for a walk and came home with a whole chicken to cook! The second weekend I had friends over for a BBQ, making pulled pork, ribs, king prawns and array of home made sauces and Whole30 approved food.
Week one I avoided snacking as much as I can as I understand the need for your body to begin processing fat for energy rather than getting the quick burst from carbs. However, week two I've been very aware that I'm grazing more (almonds), drinking less water, something which I'm confessing now because I really want to nip it in the bud for next week.
Things I've realised so far
- I'm hungry all the time
- I started eating meat again (and I'm not hating it)
- I like black coffee and will stick with this
- I don't like eating eggs too early
- I still hate lunch and need to get more creative
- I'm bored of potato
- I'm reading labels again
- I can make my own stock
- I have more interest in cooking evening meals
- I've been relying on Nakd bars too much
- I've so far spent too much money, however most of that seems to be on ingredients that'll last
- You can still socialise and make healthier choices
- I'm using different food, herbs, vegetables and am enjoying most of what I cook
- I'm not missing chocolate or skinny lattes
- I can walk past the chocolate without it falling into my basket
- I really, really want some oats, rice and hummus
- I'm still hungry
- I'm determined to do this!
I think I've already seen enough victories to persist, plus I kind of like to finish what I've started even if it's a bad book or film. I'm just really, really looking forward to week three, hoping that I'll begin to have boundless energy!
Hopefully my next blog will be reporting that the tiger blood has kicked in! I'll also be posting some pictures of the typical food I've been eating so far.
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