whole 30 - done!

My freaking word, it's over! These past 30 days of clean eating have gone from easy to hard to stupid and back again, but let me say, I am so happy I stuck to it with the help of G and the girls! I FEEL better, SLEEP better, have more ENERGY and don't want to eat every sweet thing that's offered to me. Probably the most rewarding thing is fitting into the clothes I haven't been able to wear for months because they were too tight or didn't fit at all! Weight and inches were lost too, and that's really the icing on the donuts. I can't wait to have a donut, and coffee with milk and sugar and tortilla chips at the Mexican restaurants. But overall, I am not going back to my old ways of eating whatever I feel like whenever I feel like it. Because that just feels gluttonous to me now. And it's not good for my body.

I decided to share these Whole 30 posts not only to vent about what I was feeling during this process but to remember that we did this! It seemed scary at first, but we tried something new to better ourselves and came out stronger in the end. Change is hard, but change (in this case) was good and necessary. Now, on to birthday cake please! This years a big one. :)

Whole 30 - week three

It was the week we were all dreading, Thanksgiving week. To cheat or not to cheat? That was the question. And well, let's just say it! We all cheated in some way. But, mostly by accident by attempting to be Whole30 approved and later finding out something was made with wine, or honey or some kind of sweetener after the fact. But you know what? Afterwards, we kept calm and carried on. The rest of the week went well, and we made it to week four somehow! It's true that the rules say if you cheat you have to start over, but we're not taking this THAT religiously. Because the real change has already begun in our minds and bodies when it comes to food, and that's what really matters.

Right now, I'm just thinking about day 31, when I can make my coffee with milk and (less) sugar. And be happy inside. Oh, and having Mexican with the tortillas & chips! Or going out to eat without looking at websites for what's approved. Let me not get too ahead of myself because my mouth is literally watering at the thought of this. Staying focused now!

Week Three

Biggest success: saying no to all the pie and dessert on Thanksgiving day!

Biggest struggle: saying no to the stuffing and gravy and cheesy potatoes on Thanksgiving too. lol

We're on to week 4! Bring on the veggies and the meats!!

Whole 30 - week two

Whoaaaaa. It's been 14 days of Whole30, and there have been a lot of changes happening over here so far. Let's put like this:

I've probably saved about $15 from not going to Starbucks

My clothes fit looser

My belt needs to be taken in one more notch in order for my pants to stay up

I feel stronger at the gym

I sleep better, and wake up before 9 a.m. without an alarm 

AND feel awake

I feel happier!

Now that's a whole lot of changes in 14 days. Honestly, a part of me can't even believe it. All this is happening because of the way I'm eating? No not totally, but my lifestyle is definitely changing and that's impressive and telling to say the least. I feel good because I'm actively taking care of myself in the fullest sense; something I haven't done in a long time. I believe that as people we need to take care of ourselves emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally and spiritually. Clearly, I have not been able care for any of these facets well the past few month and it left me feeling gross and "not me." Emotionally, my job is a roller coaster. Physically, going from walking to driving everywhere quickly put 10 lbs. on my body I had no energy to get off. Mentally, I was tired. Relationally, I was burned out. Spiritually, I was lazy. 

In late October to the beginning of November, God started shifting something inside of me. Now it was my turn to wake up, receive and stop whining. So I started talking to people I've been wanting to talk to, doing things I liked to do, going to the gym... And believe it or not, Whole 30 was the final push I needed to say, stop being sad about the things you don't like in your life and do something about it! Now, almost one year after moving to California, I'm starting to feel like myself again. It's no secret our move to Cali. has been harder on me than I ever thought it could be, but things are changing for the better, and I'm just saying, "Finally Tiffany! No more letting life pass you by." I don't credit Whole 30 for all the good stuff, but it's definitely part of the bigger shift that's happening in my life, and for that I'm so grateful. To Jesus, that is!

Week 2

Biggest success: ordering a Whole30 approved meal when dining out with G, when all I really wanted was the bread and pasta he was eating in front of me lol

Biggest struggle: not having enough variety of things to eat and letting myself get hungry too many times.

Let's go week three!

Whole30 - week one

It's happening! Currently Julie, Jojo, Tish, Monique and I are all eating our way through Whole30 to reset our bodies and help maintain a healthier lifestyle. Sounds good right? Well... we all have our core reasons for eating pretty restrictively during the month of NOVEMBER. I mean it's November, and this takes sacrifice. Trust me, we sure did talk about Thanksgiving! It went a little something like this: "Ok, I'll do it, but I'm cheating on Thanksgiving!" "Me too! I mean those desserts!! *heart eyes*" "Ladies...we can't cheat!!" *Cue all the whining....... LOL Some of us may or may not cheat that day, but I'm keeping that situation within the group. :)

Seriously though, the conversations that have come out of the debate to do this have been laugh out loud hilarious! But whether it's a vacation, birthday, the weight that just won't come off, or simply health - we're all doing this together and that's been the best part about it so far. So yes, I will keep calling Julie every time I'm at the grocery store juuuuust to make sure I'm not buying the wrong thing. And keep looking for recipes everyone pinning on Pinterest. And keep chatting away about #thestruggle, but also the successes and great dishes we've tried and loved.

Week one has been SO good. My body doesn't feel bloated or hungry, but lighter and lean. The food we've been making (many for the first time) have come out pretty good. And I feel happier knowing only whole foods are going in my body. I'm so excited for week two!

Week 1

Biggest success: not eating the tacos that I made for my kids at work! Not one. I miss Mexican!!

Biggest struggle: not drinking coffee. (I don't do black, especially sugar free) All you people carrying around those red cups at the mall, grocery store, literally everywhere I go it seems.... I really don't like you right now. But we'll be friends again soon enough. I'll just be wayyyy healthier. :)

Here's a photo from my favorite food combination from week one. Simple and delicious!! 

What is it? Ground beef (cooked in sauteed onions, red bell peppers, and a tomato in olive oil + salt and pepper) cauliflower rice (from TJ's) and one avocado sprinkled with salt. That's it! It does not get any easier than that. Adding sweet potato to this combo tastes amazing too. The girls have definitely been way more creative than me in the meal planning department, so this week I hope to step up my game!

Let's do this week 2! We're ready for you.