Whole30 Week 1 Recap

I apologize for my absence over the last several days. I have been in the kitchen chopping vegetables and prepping ingredients like a madwoman. I am happy to say that I'm entering day 9 of the Whole30. Overall this program has exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. I feel like I'm coming back into my skin after letting my eating habits spiral out of control over the last several months. 

Portabella mushroom bun, hamburger, bacon, fried egg with a side of fingerling potatoes!

Here's what I've learned so far:

• I thrive on a program where 100% compliance is required. Give me an inch and I will take a mile. 
• I don't need a bedtime snack. Shocking! I've always maintained that I just NEED something to end the night. That something was always sweet. I've had a bedtime snack a couple times over the last week but it was because I was hungry and it was on plan. 
• I don't miss diet soda. I've long purported that my diet coke habit was harmless because it had no calories. I also thought that I was so addicted to it that I would suffer tremendously when giving it up. I did have headaches for a few days but nothing close to what I imagined.
• Ham is not Whole30 compliant. Dustin and I had an argument over a ham we thawed and then realized it was full of sugar! We gifted the ham to a non-Whole30 family and moved on with our day. 
• My anxiety is at an all time low. I no longer spend hours per day stressing and obsessing over my next meal, snack, beverage, etc. I just look forward to my next meal that I know will be tasty and satisfying. 
• I don't feel guilty all the time. So much of my eating revolved around whether the food was good or bad. Any time I ate a bad food it perpetuated the negative feedback loop and resulted in more bad eating. Food is not good or bad. It's fuel. Period. I love the simplicity of that.
• I can't imagine going back to eating the way I used to. I already know that I want to eat this way the majority of the time once we finish 30 days. Of course I want to be able to see friends and not be alone in the corner gnawing on a chicken leg and sipping my La Croix water but I also don't need to eat half a large pizza followed by several beers. 
• I love helping other people achieve their health and fitness goals. I have a group of 5 other people doing this with me. It helps me stay accountable and I love sharing tips, tricks and recipes to help them stay on track. 

As week 2 marches on I feel happy, healthy and in control of my life. My clothes feel better, my tummy looks deflated and my digestion is running perfectly. It is absolutely amazing to see how much impact the food we eat has on overall health! I can't wait to see what the rest of the month bring.

Steak, potatoes, and carrots.

My new Saturday night treat.