Whole30 Week 4 Update (+barre3 Challenge)

Today is my final day of Whole30 and I'm so excited! I can say that I did this. I will admit right here to having a real latte a day or two ago. It was so good. I was in yet another coffee shop and the idea of having black coffee or an almond milk latte literally turned my stomach. Before I knew it, I had a short latte in my hands and happiness on my lips. So maybe I didn't do it 100% perfectly but I'm counting it as done. 

This was the perfect reset for me. I curbed my sugar cravings. I returned to food prep. I learned that I comfort myself with food way too often. I lost just over 9 pounds and gained so much energy. I'm planning to taper to an 80% Whole30 20% Non-Whole30 plan as I reintroduce foods. I need to lose more weight and I love my energy levels but I can't eat Whole30 100% of the time. It is just too restrictive for me. 

As for the barre3 challenge, it was great! Tomorrow is the last day and while this week has been a bust for workouts, it did help me get myself back on the exercise train. I was sick this week which made getting to 6 a.m. barre3 classes a struggle. My goal this year is to exercise 4 times a week (minimum). Some weeks (like this one), I am not going to do that but I think if I try for it most weeks, I'll do great. I love exercising and I plan to join ClassPass again soon to try out some new options. I'm also hitting up CorePower Yoga, Orange Theory and another studio for their free weeks soon. I want to mix up my workouts to keep them fresh while still continuing on with barre3. 

And with that, two goals have been crossed off my 2016 Goals! 

Whole30 Week 3 Update (+barre3 Challenge)

I'm just 6 days away from completing two of my goals for the year and I am psyched! I am most excited about the end of Whole30. I am loving how I am feeling and I have really re-set myself but I am feeling the pressures of the restrictions. We like to go out to eat on Saturday nights for dinner and now my husband just sighs and says, "where can you eat?" While I anxiously look up menus and say, "not there. Nope. Not that. UGH!" I have discovered some great places to eat. For instance, the Portage Bay Cafe has this really awesome Farmer's Hash made with a variety of fresh vegetables, roasted onions, potatoes and herbs along with eggs and different meats. So good and so Whole30. You can even leave out the meat if you'd like to go for a vegetarian option.

I was telling Scott that I am enjoying a lot of things about Whole30. One is getting back to Prep Day. It really helps our week if I can take a hour or two on Sunday to prep ahead for the week. I pull meat of the freezer, I roast vegetables, I make hardboiled eggs and some salads in jars. I'm definitely going to keep that up. The salads in jars are key. Those salads mean I have a good, veggie filled lunch which I really enjoy.

I've been enjoying barre3 class as usual and it has been awesome having a goal of 4 workouts a week. I've been doing it too even with the challenges of Scott's travel, sick children and other mis-adventures. My biggest lesson is scheduling my workouts and committing to at least 4 workouts a week. I have some ideas on how I'm going to shake up my workouts in February but for now, I'm thrilled with getting my 4 barre3 workouts in a week.

I actually got in 5 workouts this week which was awesome! I attended a SoulCycle Pop-up Event which was sponsored by Target. It was so, so, so hard and I keep thinking about what a fun workout it was. I mean, I thought I was going to die at the 22 minute mark but I made it the full 45 minutes with only one stop to shake out my numb feet. My feet always go numb in spinning class which drives me nuts. I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

Have you tried SoulCycle? What did you think of it?

Whole30 Week 2 Update (+barre3 Challenge)

This was a good and bad week. Good in that I ate pretty well, thanks to my stellar prep session on Sunday. Bad in that getting in enough barre3 classes was a struggle. I skipped class on Sunday due to my 14 hour travel day on Saturday. Monday, I got into the studio for a great class (and Maggie rocked childcare) and Tuesday, I woke up early and did an online workout. Wednesday, I wasn't feeling so hot so I promised that I'd workout on Thursday which lead to me promising to workout on Friday which didn't happen. I did go to a studio class today which was awesome as usual and will be attending another one tomorrow. Luckily for me, the barre3 challenge goes from Monday to Sunday so I'll be eeking in with my 4 workouts.  I'm looking forward to getting 5 in next week since Scott will be in town and won't be messing with my early morning schedule. 

I had some great meals this week.  Alice Currah posted this awesome Thai Curry Soup recipe with veggies instead of noodles on Facebook this week and I literally ran to the store for the ingredients. It was so good! 

I also made some barre3 chocolate truffles to have on hand for snack attacks and they were so helpful on Tuesday night when we arrived home late from swim and I was starving! I popped one of these in my mouth and it kept me going long enough to make a delicious dinner. I'm halfway through this journey and while there have been many times I've wanted to quit, I haven't. I have already learned that most of my issues with eating good food is 1) time and not prepping in advance (salads in jars have been a lifesaver this week!) and 2) eating due to boredom or wanting a treat. I can solve those issues. 

Whole30 Egg Salad

I've been craving and egg salad sandwich for days. Days! I haven't had one in years and the last recipe I used called for delicious sour cream. Since I'm only halfway through my Whole30, I knew sour cream and bread would be no-go's so I decided to whip up my own egg salad recipe. It's not pretty but it is delicious! 

Whole30 Egg Salad

Servings 2-3

3 Hardboiled Eggs, chopped

2 Tablespoons Paleo Mayo

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

1 teaspoon harissa

1/4 cup chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives

3 green onions, thinly sliced

Mix together in a bowl and enjoy over a bed of lettuce!

Whole30 Week 1 Update

I've almost made it through my first week of Whole30 with angst, hulk-angry and discomfort. Yesterday I was so done with it that I didn't even want to eat anything. I was BORED with food and couldn't even summon the energy to dream of donuts. I posted on a FB group about my angst and was quickly lifted up. They even checked-in with me this morning. It was a big boast!

Tomorrow I'm flying to Spokane for my Paternal Grandfather's funeral (more on that later) and will be flying home later that night which means I need to pack all my food to take along with me. I spent about 30 minutes prepping things today. I made two of the same meals - two hardboiled eggs, some cashews, a big salad with beets, oranges, tomatoes and turkey. I decided to go with guacamole as my dressing since it isn't a liquid and will be easier to transport. For snacks I've packed an apple, trail mix, a That's It bar, some almond butter and dried coconut. I'm going to eat a banana for breakfast along with a larabar. I may have packed more food than I need but I'll be gone from 5:00 a.m. to about 9 p.m. so I want to make sure I'm set up for success.

Next week comes with more challenges. Scott will be gone on business so I'm planning to spend some time on Sunday before he leaves prepping food for the week. A prepared fridge is the key to success! I'm also hoping some of that tiger blood shows up next week because I'm so tired of the hulk anger feelings. 

Quitter

At the end of March, I posted about doing another Whole30 and starting C25K. I was full of excitement and ready to tackle these challenges.

Unfortunately after a few runs with C25K, I started to doubt my decision. My hip started hurting so bad that I was waking up from the pain. I felt so rundown and exhausted. I stopped running and kept going to barre3 and I am feeling awesome! My hip is still a bit sore so I'm trying to stretch it and take it easy.

Whole30 was another failure. I didn't plan ahead accurately and when I don't plan ahead, I get hangry and eat what I want. I decided to have a "cheat' day even though that goes against the plan and never got back on the plan. I felt grouchy toward Whole30 which says to me that now is not the time for me to tackle another one. I want to do another one soon but right now, I'm not feeling it.

I've decided to just chill. I got myself into a state trying to accomplish too much. I get very enthusiastic about challenges and sometimes overwhelm myself. I do hope to tackle another Whole30 soon and we'll just see about the running. Maybe my running days are behind me? I might need to see my doctor about the ole hip.

Whole30 Part Deux

I had such an awesome experience doing Whole30 in January that I've decided to tackle another one in April. I've been busying pinning away on my Whole30 Pinterest Board and planning out my monthly meal plan.

I need more ideas though. I want to keep my plans simple and this time around I really want to meal prep a bit better. I have a feeling that I'll be going alone on this Whole30 so prepping my meals ahead will mean success for me.

I'm also a little nervous. I did so well the first time that I wonder if I have it in me for a second round. I am feeling more fatigued lately and my weight loss came to a standstill. I know both of those can be conquered with Whole30. 

Does anyone have any good Whole30 crockpot meals? Any tips as I dive into my second round on April 1st?

The End of a Whole30 Journey

Back on January 1st, Scott and I embarked on our Whole30 journey. Along the way, we gained and lost so many things. We lost weight. We gained energy. We lost our sluggishness. We gained confidence. Scott learned that he liked taking lunch to work, something he plans to continue.

On the whole, Scott and I found Whole30 to be extremely beneficial for our health and our diet. We had gotten really off track. There were milkshakes because the kids were difficult. Cheesecake because we were happy. Cookies as an afternoon boost. On January 1st, we cut all that out and surprisingly it wasn't that hard. The hardest part was that our meals began to feel boring. They were delicious but after a few weeks, vegetables and meat get boring. 

I lost 10 lbs on Whole30 while Scott lost 6. We still have more weight to lose but this was an encouraging start. I was honestly surprised that I lost more weight than Scott. I suspect that I lost more weight because I've been attending 5 barre3 classes a week. 

I'm excited to have more flexibility in my diet but I know that we'll be sticking to the core of Whole30. More vegetables, more fruit are good things for our diet. I'll be slowly adding back in dairy, grains, gluten and legumes. Today I'm adding in dairy because I have really, really, really, really missed cream in my coffee. Later this week, I'll add in grains, gluten and legumes to see how they affect me. And down the road, I might do another Whole30. It's a great re-boot. 

Poisson en Papillote

The barre3 challenge recipe this week was not Whole30 approved but I still wanted to do a barre3 recipe in order to place another sticker on my sheet (I'm a bit sticker obsessed, like my preschooler). I did a search and found a delicious looking fish recipe. It reminded me of a classic french recipe that I had seen on a few paleo sites, Poisson en Papillote (basically, fish cooked in paper). I combined a few techniques, ingredients and went from there. 

I really wasn't expecting much from this dish. I thought, ok some veggies and some fish and I'll choke it down but instead it was soooo good that I savored every bite and took longer to eat than normal. I was so sad when I took my last bite. 

This is such a simple way of cooking a delicious meal and can be easily expanded for more dinner guests. The parchment makes a splashing display at any future dinner party. 

Poisson en Papillote



by Rebecca Mongrain

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes




6069604




Ingredients (1 serving)


1 sheet parchment paper, cut into approximately 12x12-inch sheets
1/2 Tablespoon Coconut Oil + extra for brushing
1 6-oz. piece of fish (salmon, cod, halibut)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 leek, white part only, finely chopped
1 carrot, julienned
6 cherry tomatoes, chopped
1 Tablespoon Cilantro, chopped
1 Tablespoon tarragon
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 handful spinach
1/2 lime, thinly sliced





Instructions



Preheat oven to 425F.



Cut each parchment sheet into a large heart by folding in half and cutting the exterior of the half-heart shape, using most of parchment sheet. Place the open heart shape on a cutting board, brush the right side with coconut oil.



Place the fish filet on top of the parchment paper and top with salt and pepper.



Start layering on the remaining of the ingredients starting with the spinach, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms and leeks on top of the fish. Top with the tarragon, cilantro and two slices of lime.



Top the fish with 1/2 Tablespoon of coconut oil and a dash of salt and pepper.



Fold the packet into a half-heart shape and use a tight, overlapping rolling technique, folding over the previous fold’s edge to create a seal in order to ensure steaming.



Transfer the packet to a baking sheet and bake for 15 -22 minutes until the packet puffs up.



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Whole30 Week 2 Round-Up

As of last night, I'm halfway though Whole30 and I'm feeling strong. Scott and I were talking after dinner last night about Whole30 and we both mentioned how good we feel. We are more even-keel. We don't have any energy peaks or dips throughout the day. Our clothing is fitting a bit looser and while we haven't felt the tiger blood yet, we feel good.

I braved a birthday party with delicious looking treats this past week but found a few things to snack on. There was fresh fruit and date-nut balls that fit right into the Whole30 diet. The cake looked delicious but I was able to avoid it because I wasn't hungry. Molly ate an extra bite for me and told me, "It is really good!"

Next week is going to be our biggest challenge though. Scott is heading out of town and will be eating out. He feels ready for the challenge. I will be home with the girls and probably looking for wine by the end of the day. I'm planning to watch some trashy TV as my treat though.

One thing I'm grateful for through this challenge is how I am keeping our food simple. No crazy recipes with a billion ingredients, just simple, good food. In fact, just last night, we had a friend of Scott's over for dinner and I made Salmon with a purchased (whole30) sauce, potatoes and broccoli. I kept it simple which meant the kitchen wasn't a mess, conversation was lovely and we kept to Whole30. 

Jenny On The Spot is doing another Whole30 and I really enjoyed reading her thoughts on the subject. This is my second Whole30 and the first time I've stuck with it. I don't feel deprived. I feel so energetic and alive which keeps me keeping to the guidelines. I am looking forward to that Tiger Blood though. When is that going to show up? 

Whole30 Weekly Round-Up

We are 9 days into Whole30. Almost 1/3 of a way through Whole30. There are 20 more days until my coffee goes back to being the best thing about my day. Until then it will be a sorry substitute.

The past 9 days haven't been hard at all. I mean I do miss creamer in my coffee, I really miss that but otherwise it hasn't been too hard. The downsides are all the dishes and preparation each meal seems to take but the upsides have been huge!

I haven't had my mid-afternoon slump. I am rarely hungry. I have really been enjoying our meals with a few exceptions. There was a chia pudding that we made and well, let's not discuss that horrible experience. Seriously you people who eat chia pudding have way different taste buds than I do.

The kids have been eating most of the same food as Scott and I with the exception of lunch where I've been caving and giving them their most often requested Mac-n-Cheese. I've noticed that they also have more energy (how, I am not sure) but are a bit more even-keel.

We haven't always stuck to the meal plan but we've done pretty well. There was a late doctor's appointment on Wednesday which led me to the hot bar at the local grocery store searching for things in which to make dinner. I found an awesome sauce that was perfect on some steaks we had at home and some roasted veggies that rounded out our meal.

Scott has been a real trooper through this process. I've been making lunch for him to take to work everyday and he brings back the empty containers every night with a nice comment about his meal. Scott is a guy who hates taking lunch and just wants to check out all the food trucks around his office.

I've also found myself snacking less and less as time goes on. I used to snack all the time and eat bits of the kid's food. I have not been doing that at all. It's been hard to skip my afternoon Starbucks Chai Tea Latte but it's been good for me and my wallet.

This week I hope to spend more time on Sunday prepping ingredients and food for the week. I'm hoping that I will then spend less time preparing every meal. What are your Whole30 tips? How do you prep for your weekly meals? 

Paleo Whole30 Meatballs

Earlier this week, I noticed that one of my dinner recipes looked extremely boring. We were going to have turkey meatballs for dinner and the directions were basically to wad ground turkey into a ball and cook them. Ummm yum?

I looked in my fridge and noted that I had some ground turkey, ground chicken and ground beef. I then started flipping through my cookbook shelf to locate a few of my favorite meatball recipes. I knew I'd have to be creative since traditional meatballs call for breadcrumbs and bread is not allowed on Whole30. I started pulling together ideas, ingredients and a lot of spices. Then I asked Molly if she wanted to help me make dinner.

I gathered my ingredients and started mixing. I washed Molly's hands and asked her if she wanted to mix the meatballs by hand. She stuck her hand in the bowl, quickly withdrew it and said, "NO! THANK YOU!" I finished mixing the meatballs and forming them into balls. I ended up tripling the recipe below and freezing the extra which means we have two more meals of delicious meatballs coming our way. 

I served the meatballs with a homemade tomato sauce over a bed of roasted broccoli. I threw in a salad on the side since we are currently all about extra greens in this house. I'll be doing a Whole30 Week 1 Roundup post later today but I couldn't wait to share these meatballs with you. I love that they have some extra vegetables in them which is great for picky toddlers. Maggie and Molly gobbled these up and tried to eat mine! 

Paleo Whole30 Meatballs



by Rebecca Mongrain

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes




6069603



Ingredients (15-20 meatballs)

1/3 cup ground chicken
1/3 cup ground turkey
1/3 cup ground beef
1 large egg
3 Tablespoons roughly chopped parsley
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon ground, dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely diced
3/4 cup pureed sweet potato




Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

2. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients in a bowl, combine until everything is incorporated.

3. Roll the mixture into meatballs, using about 1 Tablespoon per meatball.

4. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

5. Bake at 350F degrees for about 20-25 minutes.

To Freeze: Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet and freeze for approximately 30 minutes. Place the frozen meatballs in a ziploc bag and store in the freezer. When ready to eat, you can either defrost and cook as above or place them directly on your baking sheets and bake for 25-30 minutes.


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Whole30 Weekly Round-Up

Today is Day 2 of Whole30 and honestly I do feel a bit hungover. It might just be the gray Seattle weather but here we are. I'm planning on doing a weekly round-up of our meals and my thoughts on Whole30 every Friday. While we are only on Day 2, I thought it wouldn't hurt to start today with the round-up.

Yesterday went pretty well. We started out the day with some sweet potato/spinach hash, bacon and fried eggs. Those kept me going as I prepped dinner and played with the kids. For lunch, we had some Chicken Apple Sausages, more sweet potatoes and some broccoli/cauliflower. I was starving after my Barre3 class and wanted to gnaw on my arm so I threw in a hearty snack of veggie sticks, a LaraBar, fruit and a Cranberry Kombucha. 

Dinner was Creamy Lemon Chicken Kale Soup which while good was not very filling at all. I paired it with a huge salad but an hour after dinner, I was starving! I grabbed a banana and made some homemade almond butter (the things you do when hungry). It curbed the hunger monster and satisfied me. 

Snack was probably the most satisfying meal of my day and it was also the simplest, least thought out meal. 

Spirits are still high and I'm ready to plow through this first week of Whole30. I hear it gets easier and so far, it isn't too hard. There is just some extra prep and planning to ensure that we are eating right. Next week I'll see if I can get Scott to submit some of his thoughts on our endeavor. Until then, we'll be Whole30'ing on!