Whole30 Journey - Day 2

OMG!  I woke up with major hunger pangs!  Ok, I exaggerate but seriously I typically wake up hungry.  D can go hours and not eat.  I just can't and I refuse to!  I think about food a lot and I find it weird when keto or low carb people say they just don't think about their next meal because they are full.  WHAT?!?  I go from I'm full, still full, I'm ok to where is the food I need to eat now.  I can also tell when I need to get soon or the hangry will come out.

I played in bed for a moment and thought about what I was going to whip up for myself after I fed the cat and dogs.  The cat is like me, feed me now, right now.  Wait, that's every cat when I think about it!  I made a pot of coffee (decaf, swiss water processed) from Whole Foods 365 brand.  Side note on Whole Foods, I love them.  They have everything I need, the prices are great and bonus that they are a mile from the store.  But let's get back to what I had for breakfast.

I took my steamed broccoli and just warmed that (I over cooked it the other day!) and sautéed kale and a cabbage/carrot/kale mix from Whole Foods in some coconut oil.  I added chorizo sausage close to the end of cooking so it could warm up.  Salt and pepper and that's it!  So easy, but ya know.... I find myself a little hungry still.

After breakfast it was time for yoga.  Day 2 of Yoga with Adriene's Truth.  It was a good practice and just what I needed to get ready for the gym.  Then I got ready headed to the gym - quad and chest was the focus today.  After that was Whole Foods for some staples.

I was certainly ready for lunch when I got home.  Luckily, it was already done, all I had to do was reheat it and top it with avocado!

Chocolate Chili from Melissa Joulwan.  There is a theme going forward with this Whole30!  She makes it super easy.  Not having to put much thought into your meals everyday is just what I need.  The only thing I did different was use the Instant Pot instead of the slow cooker.

Dinner was a take on Twice Baked Sweet Potato from Paleo Running Momma.  I made a few slight changes due to some allergies.  I omitted the nutritional yeast, used horseradish mustard and I had removed the skins from the potato and mashed everything.  I scaled the recipe down to only make 2 servings.  D had white sweet potato and I had a japanese purple potato.  It was totally delish and something I will make again.  I think with that potato I had a ton of carbs and feel full where I know I won't feel like I need a snack later.  That always a good thing!

After a busy morning and afternoon I have the kitchen cleaned up and the big dawg sleeping next to me.  Time for some relaxation!

Until tomorrow, day 3!

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Whole30 Journey - Day 1

I know that it's January 2nd and most people started with their Whole30 on the 1st.  To be honest, I really started it the day after Christmas with a few tweaks here and there.  I mean I did drink some Moscato on New Years Eve, oh and a hot chocolate with peppermint mocha kahlua.  I was feeling some brain fog and just not feeling 100% like I was.  I certainly didn't go crazy during the holiday's and eat a bunch of junk!  I may have had a few drinks of almond milk eggnog here and there.  Overall, I stuck to my usual diet.  I think the week before Christmas was just a little too much.  My bestie was starting her next round of Whole30 today and I thought it would be great to do it with her.

I like to keep things simple.  As simple as possible!  Breakfast comes early.  On days I work (today) it's at 5am.  I like an easy meal, one skillet, so I had a chorizo sausage (only 7 ingredients!) sautéed (coconut oil) with cauliflower and kale.  Black coffee with cinnamon.

Lunch at work I wanted something that was going to be easy (see my theme?) and something I hadn't had in a while.  In walk my can of tuna and a packet of mayo (Sir Kensington's).  I mixed it with a diced roma tomato, red onion, salt/pepper and half an avocado.  It was fabulous!

Once I got home from dinner I had a couple bites of coconut manna.  I didn't think I would be able to wait the 2 hours till dinner.  Dinner was Pad Thai from Melissa Joulwan.  The Sunshine Sauce used on this makes you not even miss peanuts!  I subbed out red pepper for the onion since D isn't a fan.  I put a small amount of zucchini noodles with it and about a half a head of broccoli.  What makes this even better was the prep I did yesterday.  I cooked up the chicken thighs and made the sunshine sauce along with a few other things.  So dinner really was ready in 15 minutes.  No excuse to order out now and why would you want to with this dinner?!

I have to say that I eat a lot of food and can tend to eat lighter during the day and put the feed bag on at night.  Yes, I was still hungry and went back into the refrigerator for another chicken thigh.  

I'm keeping with my training schedule, which means what?  Strength 3 times per week and 4 times per week yoga.  I have noticed an increase in strength and I hope it continues.

Until tomorrow!

Almost losing Jack!

I don't even know where to begin.  I have been having such a hard time emotionally this last week.  My big dawg Jack and Stryker have been not getting along.  After a lot of talking we have decided it is best to re-home Jack.  Stryker has been here for over 8 years and it's just not fair that he live in fear in his own home.  We have had Jack for almost 2 years and he has been a great dog to me.

I began writing this a couple days ago and I haven't been consistent in posting which I am going to remedy!  I need to be doing this on a daily basis, because it not only helps me but could also help anyone that could come across this and be going through something similar, or maybe not and they just find my rants amusing!

Anyhow, I have been so emotional all week I couldn't even mediate without crying almost the whole time (apparently it's what I needed).  I've been pushing hard weights at the gym but not falling back into old patterns where I would over exercise to get out all my frustrations!

To begin again.... Jack and Stryker are staying in the same home.  We have some issues to work on with them.  Stryker needs more confidence and Jack needs to stop being so territorial in the living room and the bedroom.  We need them both on neutral territory.  I don't like that we have to separate them both during the day.  I am home more so I know I can work with each or with the trainer to ease this.

I just want the above!  Okay maybe not trying to get my food!  But being next to each other, confident and happy!

Have you experienced bad dog behavior and what have you done?

Continuing on, Ayurveda and Getting Rid of Plastics!

My digestion has been really weird lately.  

For instance, today after the gym I went to Plum Market to pick up a few things and grab some lunch.  I typically grab a mix of things from the hot bar/salad bar that are gluten and dairy free.  It's several different meats and veggies, some sauce (various) but no starchy carbs.  

Today was nothing different from what I typically get and I had so much intestinal distress about 30 minutes after, it was just crazy! (Broccoli maybe?)  It's so hard to say because right now things I use to eat are causing me issues.  Unless I ate one food each meal not sure if I can figure it out.  But will be trying something soon!

It was good it was just me and the dogs!  D would have been utterly disgusted!

I was listening to Meg Doll and Shawn Mynar's Podcast - The Nourished Podcast today and they were talk to Sahara Rose who is an ayurvedic practitioner and it so intrigued me.  Way back I was following an Ayurvedic protocol and  it helped me so much.  I'm planning on implementing some of those practices based on my dosha balance.  Check out her website and see if anything resonates with you.  I bet you will find some interesting tendencies and practices that have you eat with the seasons to help balance your doshas.  I bought her book today since I can't find my old book, probably got rid of it.  Oops!  But, she stated that she has modernized the approach.  I'll be interested in what has changed.

I'm all over the place lately with everything I have been doing to get healthy!  I have been walking still and just posted some sights on my walk today on Instagram.  Check it out if you haven't!  It was chilly but good.  Half way through I stopped for a light mocha decaf coconut milk mocha.  My hands were frozen when I got back home despite holding that mocha for a while.  I have increased my meditation time to 20 minutes and even sat in silence today for it using a timer on YouTube.  I have even ventured out for different classes all over.  I'm loving the experiences.

To get back on track, this week I got rid of all my plastic containers and replaced them with glass.  I got a really good deal and typically don't store much for leftovers so the $30 for 12 containers was pretty good.  There are a lot of good reasons to not use plastic any longer.  A big one for me is hormones!  Chris Kresser wrote an article here.  Here is a good site, one that I need to look at too, to get started on living a plastic free life!

I've stopped styrofoam and now plastics.  I think it's a good practice for everyone.  No more water bottles, etc.  I have insulated bottles that I can use either hot or cold.

So what have you changed to better improve your life?  Or is there something you have been debating but haven't taken the steps yet?

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Yoga, Breakfast and Updates!

I'm trying to get out of my "day to day" routine. All I do is either work, bake or go to the gym. Well, I do yoga too, but at home. So I ventured out! I went downtown Detroit to do Sproga with Yoga Dan! What is this you say? Well, it is yoga and much more. Here is description from the website.

"Join Yoga Dan, founder of Yoga Training Club, for the launch of his newest class, Sproga™.  Start with a strong pull of espresso from our Anthology Coffee barista, then begin an all levels yoga Vinyasa flow. Follow with a restorative rejuvenating foam roll, using HyperIce technology, finishing the class in seated meditation."

It was held at the Detroit Foundation Hotel, which is opposite of Cobo Hall and just a gorgeous 

hotel. The picture I took was in The Apparatus Room as I arrived early so I could enjoy my 

espresso.

It was so beautiful there.  As I arrived
they were opening the large wooden
doors/shutters to reveal the large
floor to ceiling windows.

A wonderful espresso curtesy of
Anthology Coffee at 6:30am.














The view from the event room was more beautiful than this picture shows.

I came home to let the pups out and headed to Toast Birmingham for breakfast.  It's my
favorite meal!

 First up was decaf coffee, just black!

I got the Petoskey omelette.  Brie,
caramelized onions, bacon, and
dried cherries.

On the side - rosemary red skins















It really was a great breakfast but now hours later I know that the potatoes were not the best
idea.  I have been playing with different starchy carbs and timing but still get hungry after,
not immediately but under 2 hours later.  It seems that these carbs just don't work for me.
After talking to my functional med doctor (Dr. Brett Allen) I will be focusing on non
starchy carbs.  Working on more fats and proteins on days I'm training and more veggie and
fats on days I'm not.  I think this balance will work well for me.  Also, making sure I am
limiting extra sugars that have creeped into my diet and making sure if I have dairy it is rare.
So no brie on that Petosky omelette!  Haha!

I do have stage 2 Adrenal Fatigue.  But I will talk more about that in the next post, which
will come soon!

I wanted a cupcake so I made them

I use to watch Cupcake Wars A LOT!  I mean serious that was all I ever watched.  I never went out to eat a bunch of them either.  So why did I really want cupcakes today?  Did I want to feel like I fit in?  Fit in what?!  I didn't recently go to a party where I couldn't have anything.  I bake gluten free things at work and yet I don't eat them.  I've been thinking about a gluten free cupcake for a month at least.

I wanted the right one - I kept looking at Yummy Cupcakes which is just 3 miles down the road to see what the daily flavor was.

SERIOUSLY?!?!

Tonight, D wanted a cupcake and I wanted to bake cupcakes and make frosting.  I had Pamela's Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix in the cupboard and I went on Pinterest for a chocolate buttercream frosting.

Not mine, but looked identical.

So, now I have had a cupcake and frosting with the things I shouldn't have had because I gave into a craving.  How do I feel?

Honestly?

I feel slight guilt -  I wasn't even hungry but it sounded good.  I didn't eat much today but I have been trying to just eat when I am hungry.  Also, I have a candida problem and sugar is the last thing I need.

I'm not stressing about it!!  That's the last thing I need.  I ate it and despite there being more of them in the refrigerator, I don't want another.  I would be more inclined to eat all the frosting, but it has far too much sugar and dairy.  I actually plan to write on the container to not touch it - LMAO!  I don't really need to do that.  I can leave it but it certainly will be funny!

My next one will be in about a month for my birthday! Bawahahaha!  I will make it a good one and only have one.  No leftovers!  I will have to be very specific with my cupcake request!

So there it is.  Was this a confession? I guess it could have been.  My food is not bad at all.  I eat pretty clean and quite boring at times.  I'm changing that though.  I'm cooking more and I certainly don't need the treats.  This could have been a build up of stress finally coming out.  Either way, I feel kinda bloated and disgusting.  

Moving on to clean eating!  Maybe a little fasting in the morning.  I can't see how I will be hungry when I wake in the morning.

I gave up my FitBit and my recent functional appointment

So much has happened not only today but in the last week (-ish)!

Just today alone - I was able to sleep in until 7!  Woot!  I did wake up a few times but made myself fall back to sleep because I so needed it.

I made a "regular" breakfast of maple bacon sausage, broccoli and avocado.  On days I am off I am eating a "normal" meal, which is my protein mix and yogurt, sometimes I do avocado mixed in and coconut butter.  I know I shouldn't need to apply "" but I figured these to be emphasized since what is normal to me is not what is normal to others.

I had my Skype appointment with Dr. Allen.  Immediately he stated how tired I sounded.  True that!  I worked 4 days straight and that normally doesn't fly well for me.  Plus Labor day was super busy.  My lab work is worse than ever!  My liver values are back up again, my thyroid is all over the place, my cholesterol is up and do you want to know why?!  Nope, my diet is pretty damn good despite the few chocolate chips I eat once a week.  STRESS!

I like to think this is how I am on the inside and on the outside I am completely fooling myself.  Stress has been the one component I just can't keep in check.  It's suspected that I am in adrenal fatigue.  I'm guessing stage 3, but could be 2....

BUT, I am committed to meditation and talking with a health coach.  I figure I need to learn what it takes to be able to help others and I can't do that unless I help myself.  Makes sense right?!  So I am going to talk with Stephanie after I get my labs done.  Dr. Allen told me that she has hashi's and had adrenal fatigue (there was something else too that I forgot) and she got them under control.  I know it can take a long time to manage it, but it didn't take me overnight to get here either.  I have also spent money on supplements that didn't make my numbers budge because I didn't have stress managed.

As I write this I have made the commitment to meditate daily.  I have done it twice today, for 15 minutes each.  Easy enough.  I went on Youtube and search for 15 minute meditation and boom done!  I opted for just music.  I want to avoid any guided meditation and once I get into the grove I will drop the music and just sit and be still like I use to do.

I did some baking for work and was then told I was over on hours.... so I need to manage that time a little better.  I went to the gym and half way through I just wasn't feeling it at all.  I was feeling week and tiring quickly, so I chose to stop and headed to the store to pick up a few items.  But, prior to that I sent an email about a class I was going to be teaching and informed her that due to my health that I just cannot teach it.  As soon as I sent it I felt immediately better.  I know I probably shouldn't have taken the class on.  I know it's only one hour, plus drive time, of my life.  It was causing a huge amount of stress, but that I could feel and had the dread I didn't want to do it.

I came home and finished up a few things and made an easy dinner - prepared chicken kabobs that I just needed to cook and extra veggies.  We had to stop at the store after that and then home for more meditation.

I'm feeling better already.  Which brings me to the other point of this post.  I've dropped my Fitbit for a while.  I was being super obsessive about it.  I was listening to Jason Sieb on the AltShift podcast and him and Erica were talking about getting rid of the tracker for awhile once you already know how many steps you get in.  I can say I don't get enough at times on my days off but I more than make up for it when I am working.  For now it is put away.  I'm sure I will put it back on again, but not for awhile.

I think I am going to leave this for now.... maybe next will be about carbs.  I'm finding I want all the chips all the time (avocado oil chips, fyi).