Whole30 - DAY #1: Let's Do This!

After hearing about this from a few friends and seeing other people post about it, I decided I wanted to try the Whole30 diet.  Although it would be nice to lose some weight (mostly around the mid-section), I am trying this out to see if I can discover how my body reacts to different types of foods.  Over the last ten years or so, I've seen my stomach become more and more sensitive and it would be great to know if anything in particular is contributing to this or it is something else... Additionally, it is a great time to reset for the new year on a healthy note!

So, since I haven't written on the post very religiously, I am also going to attempt to post frequently throughout the next 40 days or so on how I'm feeling any possibly what I'm eating and doing each day.  I'm sure I will miss days here and there, but I can at least try!

Today is Day #1 and it started out with realizing I had nothing in the house to eat that was approved!  I wasn't too concerned as I had already read a lot about the diet and had a plan for the week.  That, and the fact that I BINGED on sweets, alcohol, and all sorts of fun stuff yesterday and was still full this morning, put me in a good spot to go grocery shopping early on MLK day when not too many other peeps were out and about!

This weekend I also purged a lot of the unapproved items in the condo, however, there were still some good leftovers in the fridge that Bill didn't want to toss so he decided to start his Day #1 tomorrow.  He looked up an egg casserole to make for breakfasts this week and I headed out to shop on my own!  I bought A LOT!  I ended up spending ~$165 on groceries but had items enough for at least 3 complete meals (with lots of leftovers) and salads and emergency snacks.  The only problem is I didn't find ANY approved bacon.... AAAHHHHH!!!!  Neither Mariano's nor Trader Joe's carried any as they all contained sugar.  I will have to check out Whole Foods this week.

After shopping, I returned hope and we started on our prep.  I made a Sweet Potato Beef Chili in the slow cooker and Bill made his egg/sausage/veggie casserole.  I then made my first approved egg scramble for lunch and felt very accomplished.  I was ok until about 3:30PM when I started feeling hungry... so I had some unsalted, roasted mixed nuts which seemed to do the trick.

A short sidebar on snacking -- the whole30 does not suggest too much snacking.  They tell you when you are feeling hungry to ask yourself if you could eat a baked filet of salmon and some steamed asparagus.  If your answer is 'No', then you are NOT hunger and only CRAVING.  If this is the case... then go for a walk, play a game, make a call, or do anything else and it'll pass.  If the answer is 'Yes', then go ahead and eat a small approved meal (protein, veggie).  I will have to remember to do this!

Finally, I attempted to go to the gym around 5:30PM and LA Fitness was CRAZY busy with my fellow New Year's Resoluters...  I got so frustrated with trying to find parking as well as not being able to use the punching bags (ironically I had a lot of parking rage to workout by then) that I just came back home defeated and will do my workout early tomorrow morning before work.  My only solace was that I got to come home to Bill and Athena and the yummy slow cooker chili!  I will let you know how it tastes!

Tomorrow starts the first full day of meals and weigh-in (gasp).  I will also be taking pictures of myself in minimal clothing to get record of any changes by the end of the 30 days.  And, No, I will not be sharing those here! (unless i have more than 2 abs showing by the end...)

Wish me luck!