My last foray into the Whole30 was a total fucking mess. My head was all over the show, I was putting so much pressure on myself to be the most successful Weight Loss Surgery patient EVER and I was pushing myself physically without having any idea what I was doing or why I was doing it.
I have to admit, 2017 was a big year. A year of learning a lot about myself. A year of questioning not just what I was doing but why I was doing it. Of learning about my needs (not just my wants, and not just about what others wanted from me). Towards the end of December, I felt ready to do another Whole30 round. In fact, we are so ready, the two of us got a bit excited!
Why ANOTHER Whole30?
Yes, I can hear you asking this question. And I did too. As in seriously girl, why don’t you just give up trying?
Yea yea I did ask myself that question but then I mentally slapped myself and said NO, YOU CAN DO THIS.
And then there are the 101 articles that come out at this time of the year about “10 Fad Diets that Don’t Work” and yes I have read those too. And I have read the articles by scientists and nutritionists on why the Whole30 isn’t sound. And I hear all those points – and even agree with a lot of them.
In the pursuit of the nutritionist goals, I had actually started to forget about REAL FOOD. I was trying to hit my calorie goals (especially on training days) by consuming protein bars. And all manner of processed foods. In the beginning, this was kinda sorta okay. Because of my operation, I was eating small amounts, I had malabsorption on my side and I didn’t have to think about it too hard. It was a lot easier to eat up to my recommended daily calories using these types foods – otherwise, I felt like I was eating non-stop.
Then I had my second Body Scan and that was a massive wakeup. My body fat had increased. I didn’t see the muscle gain I had expected. I haven’t had massive regain (just a couple of kilos) – but would it have been any wonder? I had also ‘discovered’ I could smash a Mama’s Donut. I really wasn’t happy with that. I never had a sweet tooth prior to surgery but fuck me, I had a Sugar Dragon in my belly and that bastard demanded to feed! I cried on the phone to a friend who is an amazing nutritionist and I said that’s it. This shit has to stop.
Since my surgery, I’ve been focusing on leading a life that prioritises my health – physical and mental. I don’t want to go back to living in a constant circle of dieting, denying and restricting, rewarding and then guilt. I’m looking for more than that. I know there is more to life than that. My January’s Whole30 is a mental challenge rather than physical. It is a re-learning. It will support my new Goals.
The Clean Out
This was the fridge situation … I’m not even going to show you the cupboards … but we’re looking at protein bars, Toblerone, cider, wine, cream, Maltesers, custard. You get the idea!
It wasn’t just Christmas and the holiday season that saw my fridge looking like something a sugar junkie would have been ecstatic to find. I’d just slipped into the easy.
I threw away what was gross, gave away what was still good and packed into containers things that might be used later – or in an emergency. A Whole30 clean out is very very good therapy!
Our Week One Gallery
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It’s the ‘oh yea this is easy!’ day. Meal 1 - ostrich egg frittata with sausage, spinach & mushrooms topped with nutritional yeast. Meal 2 - chicken and mango salad with a boiled egg and kumara/potato roasted in coconut oil Meal 3 - slow roasted beef with cauliflower rice and a moroccan tomato sauce .... and a few cashews and cherries.
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Still thinking that we got this but powering through the water to try and avoid the headaches. Meal 1 - Fried eggs, fresh tomato, grilled bacon and green beans. Meal 2 - Roast beef salad with roast kumara, boiled egg and blueberries. Meal 3 - Beef mince, creamy tomato sauce and zoodles Throw in chest & shoulders day and a bit of silly posing!
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The hangover is appearing with a dull wee headache and a cashew nut snacksident. I started reading Food Freedom Forever by @melissa_hartwig as my goal for this Whole30 isn’t physical, it’s developing new ways of food addiction recovery. Meal 1 - ostrich egg frittata and creamy beef tomato sauce Meal 2 - tuna salad Meal 3 - poached chicken and carrots, roasted broccoli, beans and a small potato.
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No nut overloads today although I came close! There was a very very long gap between breakfast and lunch but luckily there was watermelon! Meal 1 - frittata (yes, again) and beef & creamy tomato Meal 2 - poached chicken, slaw, roast potato and boiled egg Meal 3 - chicken and pork skewer, green side salad, kumara & avocado
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The headache has gone but I’m a little tired. We drove to Auckland and back and then had one more house guest ... my oldest friend in the world. So happy to see her! Meal 1 - ostrich egg frittata Meal 2 - Green Goddess Salad bowl with bacon at Urban Soul Manukau Meal 3 - slow cooked lamb roast with kale, pecan and blueberry salad and hasselback potatoes
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Man do I have the grumps! As in stay out of my way or I’ll cut you. I’m sorry World, I don’t mean it, I’m just cold turkey on the sugar. Mmmm turkey. Meal 1 - Shakshuka (spicy baked eggs) with Wairarapa Venison and Fried Potatoes Meal 2 - Bacon, eggs and potatoes. It’s Joe's Garage famous Gorgeous George. Meal 3 - Something Something Nourish Bowl with lamb, carrots, cauliflower rice, cherry tomatoes
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That’s one whole week down - yussss!! Still a little grumpy but not as tired. Possibly due to all the watermelon I ate. Bloody love me some watermelon! Meal 1 - eggs and tomatoes and avocado and baby spinach and venison sausages Meal 2 - lamb salad Meal 3 - Chocolate Chili with cauliflower rice, baby spinach, Rocket, avocado and coconut chips.
Plans for Week Two – just to keep going. In the past two rounds, this is where I have fallen down. So my head is telling me I can do this – its only 6 more days (as of today) and I’m doing better than last time. Plus my heads in a much better space and I’m feeling a lot happier. And thats got to be a good thing right?!
Look after you,
t X
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