WHOLE30 COMPLETE!

Wow, I can honestly say I never thought I would be able to say these words but... I HAVE COMPLETED THE WHOLE30 program!!!!!! Today is day 31, and surprise I haven't cheated! haha... it's only 7:04am but honestly I really don't have a desire to eat anything bad. My journey has come full circle and I feel accomplished, healthy and on my way to a complete lifestyle change. 

I will briefly break down my journey by week and again if you are interested in doing the program definitely check out the website! 

*pictures from pinterest.com

Yep, this about sums it up. I really wouldn't need to write anything else! ;)

Week 1-2

I felt exactly like the picture above. My body couldn't decide if it wanted to cry, be angry, be alone, eat a jar of butter, fall flat into a box of donuts and every emotion in between. I don't say that to scare anyone, I say that to show food has a powerful hold over you and you don't realize it until you take those foods away! Overall the first two weeks were no bueno for me. 

Week 3

I started to have an increase an energy but still struggled a bit with digestive issues. I can say I never had a stomach ache like I always used to, I think it was more my body was getting used to digesting such dense foods. This was the week I started having CRAZY dreams. Like I would be eating a piece of bread with jelly on it and wake up freaking out! phewww. only a dream! ;) This happened a lot! Some days I would still struggle with energy but the biggest change was my emotions! I saw such a change in how I felt, like a fog had lifted and I was back to being "normal feeling!"

Week 4

Easy peasy. Cravings pretty much subsided (ok, minus Easter. I was pretty bitter that I couldn't eat my Easter candy). But... besides that cravings have pretty much gone. I really look at food differently, energy has increased and I can tell slight changes in my body. I don't think I lost a ton of amount of weight thats noticeable but that honestly wasn't my goal. My overall goal was my get rid of the junk in my body and start bringing my body back to a state of healthy/normal/no stomach aches!

I am really happy and excited to have completed the program and I can't say enough good things about it!!! Give it a try. What are you waiting for? Is it hard-yes. But, it's worth it. 

Tips:

**Plan & Prep! These are probably some of the most important tips I can give you. I will say by Week 4 the thought of cutting veggies or cooking food was reallllllly starting to weigh on me. haha. I was over it. But... you just push through. 

**Grocery bill definitely increased. Were we eating out as much, no. But... our grocery bill definitely increased so make sure you are aware of this. Huge difference, no. So, don't even think about using that as an excuse.

**This next tip is helpful but not necessary. Complete the program with a buddy. I can say having my husband do the program with me was so helpful! We held each other accountable and it was nice knowing we both could really only eat out at the same places and buy the same foods. Definitely a plus!

So, there you have it. My whole30 journey! Have a great week!

Happy Monday & Day 22!!!

Happy Monday! It's almost April and officially Easter week! I love Easter! Time is flying and I am trying to cherish every waking moment because before we know it summer will be here! The weekend weather was fabulous and I was semi-productive; organized the pantry to be more "paleo", went on a walk outside, spent time with friends and prepped food for the week. 

We are here at Day 22 and I cannot believe it! A little recap of how my Whole30 Journey has gone:

Week 1-2: 

Major detox for me, hormones were balancing out/shifting as in (I was a little hormonal hot mess), but thankfully that has balanced out. Bloating and overall feeling like my pants were just a little tighter than normal (which is normal, read the book). I also had a little bit of breaking out on my face, exhaustion/tired, and really just overall out of sorts. I was not feeling too hot, still having some digestive issues and really in a nut shell my body was trying to re-figure out what the heck was going on. Let's just say, I am very glad the first two weeks are over! :)

Week 3: 

Hitting my groove, as I like to say. Energy increased, waking up early to workout was still hard at first, but had more sustainable energy throughout the day, started seeing physical differences in my body, hormones/emotions started balancing out and the mental process of eating "healthy" did not and still does not seem foreign to me. I am starting to hit the point where eating "whole30/paleo" is just what I do, it's what I eat and I know it makes me feel better. 

Do I feel 100% yet? No, but that's because I'm not done. I still have a little over a week and I'm excited to see what these last 8 days hold for me. I am so beyond happy that I am doing this program, and to see and feel the difference in my body has been so rewarding. As you all know I have wanted to do Whole30 many of times.. and failed. But this time, I was determined and told myself, it's 30 days. It's going to change my life, and so far it has. 

Whole30 Tips

As many of you know I have entered the world of Whole30 and am LOVIN it! I can't say it enough, if you are wanting to update your lifestyle habits please give this a try. Is it hard, yes. Will you want to quit, probably but is knowing you are making your body healthier forever worth it, YES. 

I wanted to give a few tips on what has helped us stick with the program.

*images from pinterest.com

1. I highly recommend reading the book. It gives you so much detail on why food is good/bad for you, how to do the program, recipes, tips and so much more. This really helped me because it helped me understand WHY you are doing this program. Knowing that I was making food choices because it impacted my health has really helped me stick with the program.

2. PLAN AHEAD. I can almost guarantee that if you do not plan/prep ahead you will not be able to complete this program. Don't quote me on that and I'm sure there's some super human out there that's able to wing it, but not me folks. I need to have food in the refrigerator, lunch planned out and "emergency" snacks in the event that I won't be home. This is key, and this is one of the most important things. I always make sure I have bacon pre-cooked in the fridge (we bake the entire package for the week and then warm it up on the stove when getting ready to eat), veggies pre-cut, fruit ready to go and chicken, beef, sausage ready to go.

3. If possible, buy in bulk. If you have a Costco or Sam's membership I highly suggest buying in bulk. You can buy organic eggs and meat at Costco and I think the price is much better than if you were to buy that much at a regular store. Just saying.... 

4. Be patient with yourself and the program. I'm not done yet, but going through the detox, slowly seeing results and some days still feeling tired are all normal... for me ;) Be patient with yourself, your body and the program. We are so used to "quick fixes" today that we don't even give things a chance to see results. This is your life. 

5. If possible, do the program with a partner! This is just a bonus, but for me, having my husband do the program with me has been so nice and extra motivating. Having someone right there to eat the same foods as you, help you when you're feeling down and just encourage/motivate you along the way has been an extra bonus, and I'm loving it!

I hope this has been helpful! If you've started, way to go!! If you're thinking about it- do it! 

Whole30 Journey... for real this time.

Let me preface this post by saying I am 100% aware that I have said I am doing Whole30 many times before, but this time is for real. This time I have no excuses. This time I am prepared (slightly dreading it) but ready for the journey. I am tired of having stomach aches all the time, I am tired of being tired, I am tired of inflammation in my hip, I am tired of random acne breakouts and I am tired of my excuses. I am so excited because my husband has decided to do it with me this time, so we are tag teaming it and it is so helpful! 

We went grocery shopping yesterday (easiest grocery trip ever)! Meat, vegetables, eggs, fruit and healthy fats. Done.

I will be documenting my Whole30 journey on this blog and give my honest opinions, feedback and difficulties. I will be honest throughout my journey and when I say I feel like crap I will truly mean I feel like crap! ;)

Today is Day 1. Today has been easy so far. Although it's only 10:30 in the morning... We woke up, worked out and had our first meal.

Meal 1:

Eggs cooked with ghee

Avocado

Bacon

Sauteed spinach

tea (unsweetened)

Water

There you have it ladies and gents. Our first meal and 2 more to come. If you are on the fence or have absolutely no desire to complete this plan I challenge you to change your mind and give it a try. I highly recommend reading the book because it helps you understand the reason/point of completing this program. 

Eating Out... Healthy Version

I am a huge fan of enjoying a night out at a yummy restaurant, but when I am trying to eat healthy and stick to a "paleo" diet it is very hard to find a restaurant that is accommodating without all the added ingredients! I know it's possible, but I personally like choosing a restaurant where I don't have to dig through the menu for something healthy. This is why I came up with a list of my top restaurants here in town that offer great healthy and delicious options!! I know there are many more but these are my go-to! 

*All pictures were found on the restaurants websites*

Enjoy!

Modmarket

They have fresh and delicious options! They're salads are soo yummy and I love that they have so many fresh ingredients to choose from!

Chipotle

I LOVE Chipotle, and I LOVE that they're chicken has no added hormones/antibiotics. I love getting a salad with guacamole and pico de gallo! Yummmm.

Nekter Juice Bar

I haven't tried this place yet because I just saw it the other day, but I am BEYOND excited that we have a fresh juice bar here in Colorado! I always love a fresh juice, especially when I'm feeling blah. You know the feeling... so definitely give this place a try! They have juices, smoothies & Acai bowls! 

Live Basil

I LOVE pizza, although I always opt out on the cheese so many would say that's not a "real pizza" but give it a try and I promise you will love it! This place offers the freshest ingredients, gluten free crusts (as an option) and any/all toppings you want! I am a huge fan and love the fresh ingredients. 

Paleo Blueberry Muffins

I found this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I always try and make a healthy version of my favorite treats and these did not disappoint! Click here for the recipe! The only thing I forgot to add in my pictures is the maple syrup! Let me know what you think!!!