Off & Runnin' -or- There's No Place Like Home

     I did my last "major" Whole30 reintroduction with legumes on Sunday/Monday. I had some peanut butter and a couple servings of beans. Neither one had much of an effect that I noticed. I've become so in love with cashew and almond butters that I can pretty much ignore peanut butter. Occasional beans are no big deal--I never did eat them all that often.
     I'm leaving in a few days for a 15-day vacation in Europe. So I'm off & runnin' with taking my best choices on a major road trip. I'll have much to report when I get back home, and I'm sure, based on past travel experiences, that I will be ecstatic to be home to get back to my healthy (W30) eating.
     I experienced one of my favorite benefits of W30 on Monday morning. A friend went clothes shopping with me (she's a saint, I'm not a shopper) and I was treating myself to something new as a reward for completing W30. For the first time in 2+ decades, I was able to buy regular-sized clothes (Size L) in a regular (not plus size) store. No Xs involved!!! Major joy. And I LOVE the top I bought, can't wait to wear it on my trip.
     Thanks to all who have shared this journey with me and supported me along the way!
          Love, love, love,
               Leta

The Build-Up was Better than the Actual Event

     Whole 30 reintroduction continues. Day 7, Thursday, was the day to give gluten a shot. I had a piece of blueberry coffee cake late morning, and at long last, after 37 days without, I had a beer in the evening. Neither one had an immediate effect. However, the sweetness of the coffee cake made me realize that I don't want to re-awaken sugar cravings. It was good, but not good enough to risk that. And, sad to say, as much as I thought I was missing beer, it really was just OK. Both items made me feel fat. And after a month of not feeling that feeling, I really do not like it. I'm not saying I'm giving up sweets or beer for life, but I will certainly consider indulging much more carefully in the future.
     On to Friday, whereupon in the evening, I had the 2nd beer (otherwise I ate W30 for the day). I also had a massage in the afternoon, which usually makes my body, and especially my left hip, quite happy. Alas, my left hip ached all night Friday night, so I have to acknowledge that gluten is a "thang" for me to avoid. Bummer, I must say, because that's probably been my favorite "food group."
     On Saturday, as I got moving through my day, my hip ache went away, thank goodness. This Whole 30 adventure has brought up the interesting internal discussion of what food is worth what. Before W30, beer and sweets, as shown by my behavior, was worth any aggravation, even though I never went crazy on either one. Now, post W30, neither is worth a night of aching, or several nights, or the physical limitations that come from a chronic ache.
      Next introduction is legumes on Day 10...

Whole 30 Re-Introduction Continues (Grains)

     On day 4 (Monday), I had non-gluten grains in the form of corn (corn chips) and rice. My left hip and leg were a bit sore on Tuesday and Tuesday night, but I'm not sure if it was the grains or the fact that I did way more walking on Monday than I usually do. I have been told in the past to avoid corn, and a while back, I stopped eating (almost daily) Fritos and noticed within a few days a big improvement in my body soreness level. So more experimentation is worthy relative to corn. Rice I can take or leave, so I'm not that concerned about its effect. I did not have any noticeable gastro-intestinal effects from the grains.
     I am also working on the consciousness of believing I'm fat no matter what I weigh. I have a wonderful support system to help me change that belief, and progress is being made.
     Next reintroduction is gluten on day 7, Thursday. I have purchased two cans of beer (rather than a whole six-pack, ain't that impressive!?!?) and will probably also give some form of dough a try.
     More to discover...
          Leta

Whole 30 Postscript: Days 1-3

     My first re-introduction was non-gluten alcohol on day 1. That went just fine. I made up a new drink: 1 shot tequila, 1 lime wedge, 2 shots mango juice, coconut seltzer water. Refreshing! I had two of those Friday evening and had no ill or unusual effects from the tequila.
     I decided to go hog-wild and weigh myself on day 3, just out of curiosity. Please note that I have been heavy (some charts would say "obese") most of my life, so I have this self-image that I'm fat no matter what I weigh. My clothes have become too large over the course of the Whole 30, so I was hoping for a 10-pound loss if I was wildly lucky. OMG, I lost 20 (TWENTY!!) pounds!!! I haven't seen the scale needle stop at this number for 27 years! I was flabbergasted, because, given my self-image as fat, I had no conception that the loss could be that big. Let's just say that did make my day. And it will probably be a LOOOONG time before I weigh myself again, as I don't generally think it's a good thing for me to do. 20 pounds, no wonder I'm feeling better!
     I don't know if there has ever been a time in my life where I did not eat out at a restaurant for a whole month, but that was the case for me in June. My husband and I went out to a Thai restaurant on Sunday night (day 3). I had a chicken/veggie/cashew stir-fry, sticking with pretty clean food and no rice. It was really nice to dine out.
     Next up on my reintroduction is non-gluten grains, such as rice, oatmeal, or corn, on day 4.
         Lighter & healthier still,
                Leta

Whole 30: Days 28-30

     I did it! Made the Whole 30! I feel awesome in every way. Most importantly, I've learned a lot about food and how I am able to eat to support my well-being. I do not intend to stay "Whole 30 perfect," but most of the foods I avoided this month are no longer "calling to me." Except beer, of course (big smile)--it is, after all, summer, and I'm going to Ireland in July!

Day 28: B: HFVJ, 2 eggs, 2 sausage patties
              L: apple w almond butter
              D: chicken salad, squash, applesauce
Day 29: B: HFVJ, cashews & macadamia nuts
              L: tuna salad w lettuce wraps
              D: chicken chowder, 1 mango, blackberries
Day 30: B: HFVJ, 2 eggs, 2 sausage patties
              L: apple & celery w cashew butter, macadamia nuts
              D: Thai chicken, cherries

     Looking ahead to the W30 reintroducion schedule, on Friday (today) I get to have non-gluten alcohol, in this case tequila (beer comes later because it contains gluten). I'll report on how that goes.
     Grateful for great health,
              Leta

Whole 30: Days 25-27

     I did it--first time ever--went to a major league baseball game and did not have a beer. I went to a Royals game as well as doing other stuff in the Kansas City area (a 3-hour drive from home), and packed my food for the whole day in a cooler. I ate my lunch in the parking lot before the game, my own little tail-gater. Fortunately, it was not a terribly hot day--that would have made beer-resistance much harder. I also scored quite a few W30-compliant food items at Trader Joe's at reasonable prices. I wish we had that store in Wichita!
     I stress again how valuable it has been to plan 3-4 days ahead what I'm going to eat. This will help me stay close to the W30 plan after day 30. And two big sources of sugar in my past--Clif Bars (almost daily) and salad dressing (several salads a week), have been replaced by W30 foods that I like much better.

Day 25: B: HFVJ, 1 banana, blackberries
             L: green salad w salmon & pecans
             D: shepherd's pie, cherries
Day 26: (game day)
             B: HFVJ, 2 sausage patties
             L: chicken salad, cherries
             D: cashews & macadamia nuts, 1 apple w cashew butter
Day 27: B: HFVJ, 2 eggs, 2 strips bacon, sw potato, cooked in ghee
             L: green salad, mango
             D: shepherd's pie, applesauce

     I'm passing up a dinner outing this week on Day 30, as I checked the menu and there's nothing there that I can hope to adjust to fit W30, and I'm NOT blowing it on the last day! I am however, going to a musical event this week that encourages picnic suppers, and that's easy for me by now.
     Three days to go...it really has gone by quickly. And I feel SO great!
         Whole & healthy,
                Leta

Whole 30: Days 22-24

     Less than a week to go. My golf outing where I brought my own W30 lunch proved to not be a problem at all, because it was so hot and humid that by the time we were done playing, I was so miserably hot, I was nauseous, and didn't eat anything at all. Granted, I might have killed for a really cold beer, but I convinced myself that they did not have any of my favorites, so it wasn't worth wrecking my W30. A beer at that point would not have been a smart choice anyway.

Day 22: B: HFVJ (home-made fruit/vegetable juice), pecans & cashews
              L: chicken salad, olives, grapes
              D: veggie salad w/ grilled salmon
Day 23: B: HFVJ, 2 eggs, 2 strips bacon, sw potato, cooked in ghee
              L: tuna salad, 1 banana, cashews & pecans
              D: chili, cherries
Day 24: B: HFVJ, 2 eggs, 2 strips bacon, sw potato, cooked in ghee
              L: apple w cashew butter, macadamia nuts
              D: shepherd's pie, cherries

     Something I'm quite curious about... since I've been on W30, I have been in several situations where mosquitoes were hugely abundant and other folks were getting chewed up, but I was not (and I had not applied bug repellent). Usually mosquitoes are all over me. I don't want to jinx this bonus, but could it be what I'm (not) eating?
     I said in an earlier post that I'm not really fond of cooking. It's dangerous! While making W30 Shepherd's Pie last night, I burned the length of a finger to the point of blistering. I tell you this not to tout my stupid move, but to let you know about healing. I put ice on it, of course, but once I was done cooking, I split a leaf of an aloe vera plant and bandaged that to my finger and left it on for the night. Not only did the burning ache go away, this morning the blister was completely dried up! It barely hurts at all. Morals of story: don't place hand on hot stove, and have an aloe vera plant handy!
     Lovin' life!
              Leta