Still going, but it's been awhile since we talked...

Today is Day 19.  It's been going great actually.  I had a hard time at the beginning of the week, and then I realized, soon, I can eat what I want (if I actually want to).  I feel great, I like my food, and I sleep awesome. I will no longer be showing you every little meal I eat, but instead, show you some new foods, recipes...other Whole30 stuff.

I'd also like to thank all the extra water from great whole foods for waking me up at 5:30 in the morning!!

Kombucha -  It's a fermented drink that supposed to be good for you and your digestion.  I guess it tastes okay.  It's pretty expensive and hard to find without added sugar.  I guess I could make my own, but I don't think I like it enough to do that.

Mussels - Not as good as Steamers in my opinion, but made with Ghee (clarified butter (butter without dairy)) and garlic, the sauce was pretty darn yummy mixed with the zoodles!!

Salmon Cakes - Good for both breakfast and lunch.  I used canned salmon, egg, almond flour, and spices.  It was a little dull, which I think is the fault of the canned salmon.  Adding some guacamole or hot sauce helped out.  I'm making salmon for dinner tonight, so I bought some extra to try a fresh cake tomorrow for breakfast.

Thanks for your support,

See you later,

Jamie

Yup...still going!!

 Days 9-11.  Sorry, but busy with school, lazy with the blog.  I'll try to make it quick, but just want to show some great food I've been eating and how I've been feeling.  So, day 8-9, they said there would be bloating, well on Day 9(Tuesday Morning, there was).  It almost felt good that I was experiencing what the book says.  That means I'm doing it right?  doesn't it??  

Day 9.

Breakfast - The rest of that frittata.  I should make a smaller one next time.  I did get a little sick of it, but it was perfect to have around for breakfast.  I just like fresh food so much more then leftovers, but they are great in a pinch.  

Lunch -  I had chicken on a salad.  Again boring, but tastes good and keeps me full.  

Day 9 - Dinner.  Finally something good.  Shrimp with zoodles and tomatoes with some cod and salad.  

Both the zoodles and shrimp came from the freezer.
Easy dinner to have on hand.

 DAY 10 & 11...

 They say Day 10 & 11 are the hardest days.  This is when many people quit.  The mentality is that "I'm an adult and I can eat what I want."  Of course you can, but for me, this is a challenge that I accepted in front of all of you, and I will complete it.  I will admit, that I had the most intense cravings these days, and it was hard.  And this is hard.  Here are my meals for Days 10 & 11 (And 12, because I have those too)

Day 10.

Breakfast.  2 Fried Eggs with Asparagus.  Guess why it isn't a good idea to eat asparagus in the morning???  

It's the pee!!!

Lunch - Lettuce wraps with chicken and guacamole, yellow peppers and black olives.

Very messy, I would be better off just making a salad.

Dinner - Rotisserie Chicken to the rescue...with sauteed spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Day. 11

Breakfast - 2 Fried eggs with Salsa and Guacamole, and a banana.

Lunch - Salad with Chicken.  Much less messy than the wraps from yesterday.  And I almost always have grapes with lunch.

Dinner - Chicken Stir Fry, with tomato and cucumber salad.

See, that rotisserie chicken goes on forever!!

Day 12.  Days 12-15 is the "I dream of Junkfood" stage.  I have a cold, so slept kinda crappy last night, but no twinkie dreams.  And hopefully there won't be.

Breakfast - 2 Fried Eggs with cucumbers.

Lunch - No pic, but leftover chicken stir fry, and peppers and black olives, and grapes.

Dinner - Salad topped with a burger, and my special garlic mayo.  YUM!!

 Sorry, it took so long to write, but I have been doing great, and believe me, you guys are still keeping me accountable, so thank you!!  I just have to get through this weekend, and then supposedly I get the "TIGER BLOOD".  We'll see.

Talk soon,

Jamie

1 week Down!!

Day 6, 7, and 8

I thought this weekend would be really hard, but it wasn't that bad.  I did keep myself busy, but after last time, I was sure I would want some wine.  I thought about it, but was actually cool without it.  Without wine, I have found a new addiction...

My Seltzer Graveyard

Day 6.  They say on Day 6 and 7 you just want to nap.  And to be honest, I did.  I fought it so I could have a good night sleep, but was definitely tired.  Also, according to my Fitbit, I have slept through the night all weekend.

Day 6, Saturday.

Breakfast - Eggs with Salad and Sweet potatoes.

Lunch - Burger with salad and a special sauce (Primal Kitchen Mayo with garlic and chives)

Dinner - I had a lunch pretty late, so I ate a piece of frittata and some pistachios for a late night meal.

Day 7, Sunday............Woohoo, no Wine!!!

Breakfast.  Eggs with Salsa and Guac.  I know I've said before it's not so much for veggies, but I will make up for it the rest of the day.  

Lunch - Beef and veggies.  I used half the frozen veggies now, and am saving the rest for dinner.

Dinner - Shrimp with the rest of my lunch veggies.  So much shrimp!!

Day 8.  Sorry, but I have no pics.  Just like last Monday, it's my leftover, no plans, just winging it day.  Supposedly your pants can feel tighter, but since I only wear leggings and yoga pants, I have yet to notice it.

Breakfast - Frittata

Lunch - Soup and Black Olives

Dinner - Rotisserie Chicken with Salad (and the small amount of leftover beef and shrimp from yesterday)

Tomorrow's Dinner will at least be better.  Thinking the rest of the frittata and soup tomorrow.  Leftovers are just so easy.

See you tomorrow,

Jamie

Day 4 & 5...Kill all things!!

According to the Whole30, by day 4 and 5, I should want to murder anyone who even looks at me funny.  Luckily, I am very happy and do not want to "kill all things" or "eat all things".  Maybe it's the new job keeping me busy, but this is working out so far.  And last night, I slept the best I have slept in a long time.

Day 4 

Breakfast - 2 fried eggs with veggies.  I put the veggies together the night before, so it would be much easier in the morning.  Honestly, I would love to have just 2 plain fried eggs, but each meal on Whole30 should include protein, veggies, and some healthy fat.  I think it does keep me a little fuller, a little longer.  And veggies are so good for me, so why fight it.

Lunch -  Lettuce wraps with turkey, guacamole, and orange bell peppers.  It's a little messy, but I love it.  Also, I buy the single serve guacs, so it stays fresher longer.  I buy Waterhill turkey, without any of the bad stuff!! 

Dinner - Lemon & caper chicken thighs, with sauteed spinach and

sweet potatoes.  This is one of my favorite meals.  I had chicken thighs for the firsts time last year, and wow, they're so good.  I add some chicken broth and lemon juice to make a nice sauce for the chicken.  It's delicious.

Day 5.

Breakfast - Frittata, made with chicken sausage, spinach, red peppers, and scallions.  I was a little nervous it would be boring without cheese (because, isn't everything), but it was actually quite good.  The apples in the sausage gave it a nice sweetness.

Lunch - Leftover sausage soup and grapes.  Gotta love leftovers.

Dinner.  Zoodles (Zucchini noodles made with a spiralizer) with lemon chicken.  I added some of that lemon sauce and it was delicious.  I also make extra zoodles and freeze them for another time.

Now it's time for the weekend.  Need to keep myself busy, because this is when I usually eat the most.

Thanks for listening,

Jamie

Day 2 and 3

Day 2 and 3 are put together as "The Hangover" days, ironic since I'm not drinking.  Most people doing the Whole30 complain of headaches, fatigue, and brain fog while your body is adjusting to the new foods.  Luckily, since doing this back in August, I have kept my foods mostly healthy during time between.  I also just started a new job, so there's probably some extra endurance.  In conclusion, day 2 and 3 haven't been all that bad.  I didn't post yesterday out of pure laziness, or maybe the fatigue hit and I hadn't really noticed.  Here are my meals from yesterday and today.

Leftover steak and veg from last night.

Day 2.  

Breakfast - steak fajita omelette with an apple.  

Lunch - Chicken salad with greens and black olives.

Primal Kitchen Avocado oil mayo is just as good as there real thing.
It's soy, canola, sugar, and dairy free!!

Dinner - Chicken, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.

I love the store bought rotisserie chicken.  One chicken goes on for days!!

Day 3

Breakfast - The sorriest 2 fried eggs you've ever seen.  This was a choice between sleep and a nice looking meal...I chose sleep.

Lunch - Chicken salad again with greens, black olives, orange bell peppers and grapes.  

I use olive oil and little lemon for my dressing.

Dinner - Sausage and escarole soup.  I still get very excited that I make this from complete scratch.  A little note on sausage.  All packaged "sausage" has sugar.  I couldn't believe it.  For this I used ground pork, and seasoned it with sage, garlic, salt and pepper.  This soup does not need sugar :)

Talk to you later,

Jamie

Day One.

Salsa probably isn't the best veggie, but like I said
did not not plan that well.

 Day one #Septemberwhole 30 isn't that bad.  I tried Whole30 on August 1st this year and made it six days before I had some wine.  With the summer winding down, I thought September would be much easier to handle this challenge.  Not having a cold glass of white on a hot day is hard to do!!

Breakfast - 2 eggs with salsa, guacamole, and grapes.

I steamed up a bag of sweet potatoes for use throughout the week.
Always be prepared.

The only sugar-free and Whole30 chicken sausage I have found.
They are delicious!!

Lunch - Salad with Chicken Sausage, sweet potato, with peppers and onions.


Dinner:  Steak with Broccoli.



Day 1 Done...only 29 to go.

See you tomorrow,

Jamie

Happy Labor Day!!!

As many of you know, I have decided to take on the #SeptemberWhole30 Challenge, starting today.   For those who don't know me that well, I have anxiety, heartburn, allergies, and psoriasis (an autoimmune disease), and a few other things..  Sometimes I think maybe I don't have to feel this way. I want to wake up in the morning and feel great.  I did plenty of research on Whole30, including reading Melissa and Dallas Hartwigs's first book, "It Starts with food." This is a 30 day lifestyle change that is supposed to make you feel like your best self. So, what can I eat? I can have meat, fish, eggs, veggies, fruit, olive oil...you know, all the good stuff. Now, what do I have to give up for 30 days that will make my body feel better? Sugar, Dairy (yes, cheese :( ), Grains, Legumes, and sadly, alcohol. Hence, my title being "No Wining". 

I will not whine (or wine) these next 30 days. I will suck it up, and do it, because it's good for me, and I said so. Do you think it sounds hard? The most often quoted line in the entire Whole30 program is this one: "It is not hard. Don't you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard." True...and thank goodness I already drink my iced coffee with a splash of unsweetened almond milk.

Making chicken stock.  Such good soup weather!!

This most important part of the Whole30 is planning.  That being said, I was in Maine all last week and went to a family Labor Day party yesterday.  I had known this was coming, so I'm good for today and need to hit the grocery store after work tomorrow to stock up.

Beef and Broccoli marinating for dinner.
Coconut Aminos are a soy-free substitute for soy sauce.

My plan for the next 30 days, is to post my three meals per day, and maybe some interesting factoids about Whole30 as I go.  I'm also excited to share new recipes and how I feel throughout this journey.  Truly, I just want people to know I'm doing this so I can't quit.  

 That will just be embarrassing.

Thanks for reading,

Jamie