9.21.2016

Whole30 Week Four Recap PLUS Results

I have now been in post-Whole30 world for a week.  I have to say, the experience was pretty awesome.  To know that I am capable of being so disciplined for 30 days is an amazing feeling!  Not only did I eat wholesome, good for me foods, I also abstained from alcohol AND eating out (minus one birthday dinner out and four Chipotle take-out meals - all of which were Whole30 compliant). 

So 30 days multiplied by 3 meals a day minus 5 restaurant meals equals 85 meals that myself or my husband prepared!  (And cleaned up....)  From a family that goes out to eat and gets take out on a very, Very, VERY regular basis, this is amazing!!

So lets start this post with the fun stuff.  MY RESULTS!  Non-scale victories include better sleep (I'm not waking up four or more times a night anymore), more sustained energy throughout the day (no more 2:00 PM tiredness),  clearer skin (buh-bye pimples!), and my clothes are fitting!!!  They were all getting really tight and uncomfortable and I can happily say that is no longer the case!  Okay...  so now for the best part....  I lost exactly 22 pounds!!  TWENTY-TWO POUNDS!  And I was never hungry or deprived!  This was an awesome perk!

I use the Progress application to track my weight and measurements.

Now this brings on a lot of contemplation and responsibility.  I have done so well in the first thirty days.  I am afraid of my post Whole30 life.  I realize this may be an unhealthy feeling but I am really afraid of eating or drinking certain foods and it all just comes rolling back (the bad habits, the weight, the crappy sleep and no energy).  So even though I spent my first post-Whole30 weekend out of town in South Bend, Indiana, I was really afraid of eating or drinking certain things.  Now I did eat a little pizza, and I did eat a couple of noncompliant snacks (but we're talking nuts roasted in peanut oil and those snap pea crisps), and I did partake in some adult beverages...  All in all I thought I did pretty well.  Well I ended up gaining 9 pounds back!!  Ugh....  I realize a lot of this is water weight from the weekend splurge.  But it just makes me a little afraid of my past creeping back up on me....  So that is my cautiously-optimistic shpeel about my post-Whole30 life....

Hubby and I walking out of the Notre Dame tunnel.


That being said, lets get back on the happy wagon and take a look at what I ate during my final days of my freshman Whole30 journey.

Day Twenty-Two:


Breakfast: Homemade Breakfast Sausage, Broccoli Slaw with Tesamae's Lemon-Garlic Dressing, and Two Eggs (similar to days ten, eleven, fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen).
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole (same as days nineteen and twenty).

Day Twenty-Three:


Lunch: Loaded Taco Soup (same as days seventeen, nineteen, and twenty)
Dinner: Trader Joe's Italian Chicken Sausage, Seasoned Crushed Tomatoes, and Italian Roasted Vegetables

Day Twenty-Four:


Breakfast: Caramelized Onions and Butternut Squash Crustless Quiche (same as day twenty-three).
Lunch: Leftover Trader Joe's Italian Chicken Sausage, Seasoned Crushed Tomatoes, and Italian Roasted Vegetables (same as day twenty-three).
Dinner: Slow Cooker Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce

Day Twenty-Five:


Breakfast: Caramelized Onions and Butternut Squash Crustless Quiche (same as days twenty-three and twenty-four).
Lunch: Leftover Slow Cooker Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce (same as day twenty-four).

Day Twenty-Six:


Dinner: Justine's Chipotle Bowl Knock-Off with Steak, Chicken, Fajita Vegetables, Red and Green Salsa, and Guacamole on top of Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice.
(I woke up late this morning, and breakfast was very large, so I just had a light snack between meals).

Day Twenty-Seven:


Breakfast: Homemade Breakfast Sausage and Hardboiled Eggs (similar as days ten, eleven, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and twenty-two - hey - I made A LOT of sausage!)
Lunch: Loaded Taco Soup (same as days seventeen, nineteen, twenty, and twenty-three - I made A LOT of soup too!  HAHA!)

Day Twenty-Eight:


Breakfast: Savory Breakfast Casserole (subbed bacon for chorizo).
Lunch: Leftover Slow Cooker Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce (same as days twenty-four and twenty-five).
Dinner: Chipotle Carry-Out:  Carnita's Salad (double meat), with Tomato and Green Salsas, and Guacamole.

Day Twenty-Nine:


Breakfast: Savory Breakfast Casserole (same as day twenty-eight).
Lunch: Leftover Justine's Chipotle Bowl Knock-Off (same as day twenty-six).

Day Thirty:


Breakfast: Savory Breakfast Casserole (same as day twenty-eight and twenty-nine).
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Eggroll in a Bowl (same as day twenty-nine).
Dinner: The Whole30's Salmon Cakes (recipe from book) and Broccoli with Kalamata Olives, Garlic, and Lemon

So that's it!  That's the end of my first Whole30 round!  It was another week of delicious food.  The recipes I would say you HAVE to try include the Moroccan Cod and Roasted Broccoli, the Caramelized Onion and Butternut Squash Crustless Quiche, the Slow Cooker Basil Chicken on Coconut Curry Sauce (make sure you sprinkle some cayenne on top), the  Jalapeno Turkey Burgers, and the Paleo Eggroll in a Bowl.  So basically the entire menu for the week.  But seriously - SO GOOD!

So as the days and week progress, I will continue to post.  I am going to go back to my previous format, posting single recipes per post.  I have six more weeks of school left, so it may be a little slow-go till that is FINALLY over.  In the mean time, you can always visit my Instagram page.  My username is luckeynurse11 and I post meal pics almost daily. 



9.06.2016

Whole30 Week Three Recap

Another week down and I can feel my clothes loosening up.  It's pretty amazing!  Matt had to go down a notch on his belt buckle.  This has been a great experience and I look forward to living the lifestyle even after my 30 days are up.

Which brings me to week three.  During week three I continue to become better at menu planning and I have also learned how to reign in the budget a bit, which is always a good thing.  This week was pretty easy for me because I worked the weekend.  So it was easy to not be distracted by eating out or drinking alcohol. 

Day Fifteen:


Breakfast: Homemade Breakfast Sausage, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Two Hard Boiled Eggs.  (Same as days ten, eleven, and fourteen.)
Lunch: Dump Ranch Chicken Salad on Zucchini Rounds. (Same as day twelve and fourteen.)  I just threw together some chicken, homemade mayo, ranch seasoning, and a red bell pepper, a yellow bell pepper, and three celery stalks for this one. 
Dinner: Chipotle Carry-Out:  Carnita's Salad (double meat), with Tomato and Green Salsas, and Guacamole.

Day Sixteen:

Breakfast: Homemade Breakfast Sausage, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Two Hard Boiled Eggs.  (Same as days ten, eleven, fourteen, and fifteen.)  I made a double batch if the sausage and froze half of it.  This breakfast is tasty and easy and I don't mind eating it most mornings.
Lunch: Leftover Blacked Mahi-Mahi and Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots and Matt's Mashed Potatoes with Ghee and Almond Milk.  (All leftovers from day fourteen.)
Dinner: Cauliflower Fried Rice with Chicken.

Day Seventeen:


Breakfast: Paleo Breakfast Burritos.  (Same as days five and six.)  Subbed compliant roast beef for the ham because I could not find any.
Dinner: Oriental Pineapple Coleslaw Salad with Grilled Chicken.  This link has since been removed?!?  What the heck?  So this is what I do remember: Dressing - 1/2 cup of mayo, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil.  Salad - 1 bag of coleslaw mix, 2 carrots shredded, green onions, sliced almonds, sesame seeds, cooked chicken breasts that were seasoned with garlic salt and pepper.  Mix everything and enjoy!

Day Eighteen:


Lunch: Leftover Oriental Pineapple Coleslaw Salad with Grilled Chicken (same as day seventeen).
Dinner: Slow Cooker Beef Stew. (Matt made this dinner since I was at work.  He used extra carrots instead of green beans and arrow root powder for thickener instead of potato starch).

Day Nineteen:


Breakfast: Southwest Breakfast Casserole (same as day eighteen).
Lunch: Loaded Taco Soup (same as day seventeen).
Dinner: Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole.  (Dinner was made by Matt again since I was at work and it was AMAZING!  A keeper for sure!)

Day Twenty:


Breakfast: Southwest Breakfast Casserole (same as days eighteen and nineteen, but on this day I put a dollop of guacamole on top and ate some leftover pineapple with it).
Lunch: Loaded Taco Soup (same as day seventeen and nineteen).
Dinner: Leftover Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole (same as day nineteen).

Another great week of food was had!  Unlike last week's misses, I can happily say everything this week was really good and totally satisfying!  If I had to pick three recipes you couldn't miss I would say the Loaded Taco Soup, Cauliflower Fried Rice with Chicken, and the Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole you have to try!

Onward to my last week.  I am nervous and scared and excited.  It'll be a whole new world after the 30 days are up! 

Catch you guys soon!