Whole30 RECAP

I know this is LONG overdue but I am finally getting around to it. My last day of Whole30 went just as well as the previous 29. On my 31st day I hopped on a plane to Florida to see some of my best friends from college (and had a BLAST!). Since I got back from Florida 2 weeks ago I have been running around (literally) moving and busy at work and also without Internet! So here I am at a local coffee shop (right next to my new cozy apartment, I'm in love) finally getting back into my blogging groove.

So the Whole30.

I like lists so here is my lists of what I loved and what I didn't.

What I loved:
- by the end of the 30 days I did feel significantly better physically and emotionally
- knowing I had to be prepared forced me into a habit of batch cooking on the weekends which made it MUCH easier to make good decisions when a healthy meal was already ready for me at the end of a long day
- batch cooking meant I discovered and tried out many new recipes
- I lost 6 pounds
- I successfully completed by far the biggest health challenge of my life

What I didn't love:
- I am a strong believer in "everything in moderation". Although I eat a mostly paleo lifestyle the 20% of the time I don't is very important to my life. I love to bake and cook and having an all or nothing attitude doe not work well with my life.
- no alcohol. I need my wine.
- their persistence that you only need 3 meals a day. This doe not work for my lifestyle. Most days I eat breakfast at 6am and can't sit down to lunch until 3pm if I even have time to sit down. Snacking throughout the day is what works for me and as long as it is healthy choices I don't see anything wrong with that.
- No dairy. Dairy is not something that upsets my stomach so for me the occasional cheese and yogurt is acceptable.

Overall thoughts:
Am I glad I did it? YES. Will I ever do it again? Probably not.

It was a great accomplishment and it was a great reset button on my eating habits that had begun to spiral out of control. I will take what I learned and apply it to my life and I am proud that I can say I completed the whole30 and I really do recommend it as one of the healthiest "cleanses" out there. No gimmicks, no promises, just good, natural food.

So what's next?
Like I said I will continue some habits that formed over the month of August such as batch cooking, and adhering to a mostly paleo lifestyle but I won't be giving up my baking and treats anytime soon. As for my blog stay tuned for lots more recipes, fashion and lifestyle tips from ME :)

Thanks for following me on this journey and never hesitate to ask any questions!

1 Minute Flaxseed Muffin (Whole 30 Day 29)

WHOA. Today is my second to last day???? I honestly can't believe it. Remember how whiney and annoying I was around Day 13? I honestly didn't think I would last and here I am! I can say it has gotten easier. When approached with sweets, gluten, alcohol, etc. it really has become second nature to just say no without even thinking about it! Sure I still miss certain things and I will have them again someday but I think from now on before I eat I am going to ask myself, "Is this really worth it?" If it is then go for it! But if it isn't, just say no! OK well I will touch more on that tomorrow in my recap (crazy!).

Today for breakfast since I am still stove-less and couldn't make eggs I decided to try out a recipe I had seen on Preppy Paleo for a Paleo "muffin" that could be made in the microwave. Simple enough!

This is my version I made and I really liked the way it came out! It was a great texture and the flax kept me full for hours! Definitely will be trying this again and adding new flavors!

One Minute Flaxseed Muffins
adapted from Preppy Paleo 

3 tbsp. ground flax
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp melted coconut oil
Add Ins of choice:
1/2 mashed banana, drop of vanilla extract, 1 tbsp. unsweetened coconut, 1 tbsp. Almond Butter.

Mix all together in a microwave safe mug and cook for about 60-90 seconds. Pop the muffin out and enjoy!

Meal 1:
Flaxseed muffin

Meal 2:
Turkey, fruit, kombucha, and trail mix.
I am kind of obsessed with this combination lately.

Meal 3:
Bacon, chicken sausage, a few handfuls of banana chips.

Wednesdays at my box always include lots of lifting and tonight wasn't any different!

WOD:
40 deadlifts
30 hang squat cleans
20 shoulder to overhead

It started easy with the deadlifts but DEFINITELY got harder about halfway through the cleans. My arms are going to be dead.

Well I am off to start packing because the day after tomorrow I leave for FLORIDA! Yes, I planned my Whole30 perfectly so that the day it ends I will be going on a 5 day vacation. I am so excited to catch up with friends and family, go to a football game and R-E-L-A-X before the next 3 months of craziness at work. I counted today that I am currently working on 15 events at once that will all occur in the next few months. Yikes.

Whole 30 Day 28

Another long and kitchen-less day. Super boring on the food front and after work all I wanted was a hot meal. Enter Chipotle. It will never compare to Moes but it tasted pretty darn amazing. Although it still annoys me that they charge almost $2 extra just for guacamole. I could get two entire avocados for that much!

Sorry no pictures today.


Meal 1:
Hard boiled egg, fruit, green smoothie, bacon (made in the microwave, sad but delicious)

Snack:
Trail mix (banana chips, raisins, almonds)

Meal 2:
Another amazing salad: spinach, chicken, tomatos, onions, red peppers, & lime juice

Snack:
Chocolate Coconut Larabar (not my recommended flavor, coconut cream is still my favorite)

Meal 3:
Chipotle! Burrito bowl with pork, extra veggies, lettuce, salsa, and GUAC! Noms.


My workout for the day was...Shopping. Which totally counts.

Paleo "Pie" (Whole 30 Day 27)

So last week my brother mentioned our sink being out of use for a few days due to some housework that was being done. OK. I can deal without a sink, a little awkward and annoying but do-able.

Then I walked home and found this...

Umm I'm sorry.. WHAT??!!! Our entire kitchen looks like it's in some creepy horror film (complete with some crazy fan making funny noises). This crazy contraption completely blocks all of our cabinets, sink, and stove. So needless to say this week food-wise has been a little crazy as I have very few options. 

Meal 1:

(before the kitchen desolation) 2 fried eggs, bacon and avocado

Snack:
2 plums, "trail mix" (banana chips, almonds and raisins)

Meal 2:
PHENOM Salad: spinach, tomato, red pepper, green onion, avocado, seasoned chicken with lime juice dressing, side of cherries.

Beautiful isn't it?

Meal 3:
Ants on a log, banana chips, and KIT berry bar

After this much nutritious and super grown up dinner I decided to throw together a little dessert idea I found on Carrots n Cakes. I know, dessert isn't allowed on Whole30, but this doesn't count in my books.

I present what I like to call PALEO PIE.

I don't know how appetizing that looks but let me tell you it is GOOD. If you are anything like me your favorite dessert is warm fruit cobbler topped with ice cold vanilla ice cream. Mmmmm. It just tastes like summer. 

Now I didn't have the ice cream (but believe me post Whole30 I will) but even without, this tasted like I was straight up eating cobbler! The best part is it's another super simple recipe!!

Paleo "Pie"

Handful/Cup/Entire bag of frozen or fresh fruit (I've found frozen works a little better)

1 spoonful/tablespoon/scoop of Almond Butter

Place both in microwavable bowl/mug , no need to mix, place in the microwave for 60-90 seconds and enjoy!! I don't know how but something magical happens in those 60 seconds. The fruit melts, the almond butter disappears, and the flavors all meld together for a seriously dangerous awesome paleo treat. 

Of course this could be manipulated with any kind of fruit or nut butter and probably produce an equally amazing outcome. My first time was with a raspberry, blueberry blackberry mix but since then I have also tried just strawberry's (PB&J anyone?) and had a friend who experimented with peaches! The possibilities are endless!

So before I dove straight first into my jar of Almond Butter I actually did work out today. Squats on squats on squats. 

If my kitchen hadn't been out of commission I may never have tried paleo pie. Positive side?

Pumpkin Walnut Muffins (Whole 30 Day 26)

Didn't end up playing Hooverball but I did go out to watch the fun! There were some fierce competitors! Last weekend on Whole30 and next week at this time I'll be getting crazy lounging in Florida!

Pre- Breakfast:
Black coffee and Chocolate Coconut KIT bar (so good!)

Meal 1:
Frittata, sausage, banana chips

Meal 2:
a little bit of Paleo chili that someone brought to Hooverball, coconut larabar, apple

Meal 3:
Green smoothie, Banana chips, ants on a log, plum
Loved this paleo twist of a childhood favorite; almond butter swapped out for peanut. Yum!

As my Paleo contribution today I whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Walnut Muffins from CarrotsNCakes. The only difference I made was adding half a bar of 100% Ghiradelli Baking Cocoa well because everyone loves Chocolate! Unfortunately I couldn't try one since they included honey, but I heard great reviews! I will definitely make them again!

Live Sore (Whole 30 Day 25)

So as I was finishing my deadlifts yesterday and making note of my weight I realized I hadn't deadlifted in THREE MONTHS. What?? Apparently Fridays are my most often skipped day (which is the only day we deadlift; every other week). Needless to say, getting out of bed this morning was a struggle. My box has a motto, "Live Sore", I happen to live this motto very often.

Thankfully the weather is finally cooperating with me and is semi-cool. Hoping at least for some sunshine tomorrow (but not too much!) because I am..wait for it... playing HOOVERBALL! My trainers decided 5 days a week WODs wasn't enough time spent with each other so they organized a tourney happening tomorrow (in addition to our gymnastics classes, "shred" club and barbell lifting club; we have many many activities). If you have no clue what Hooverball is (such as me until 1 week ago) you can find a quick explanation here. Still unsure if I am actually playing but I will be baking paleo goodies to bring! Planning for some Pumpkin Walnut Muffins!

Day 25 Recap

Meal 1:
Frittata, sausage, mango bliss smoothie

Snacks:
Fruit, hard boiled egg and key lime larabar

In between meal:
Rosemary chicken and watermelon

Meal 3:
Chipotle steak bowl {noms}

I also did a little grocery shopping today at my favorite store Sprouts; I love that they have all of the raw nuts available by weight so you can get as little or as much as you want! Cheaper too!

I'm excited to try these new KIT's bars. They seem to have similar ingredients to larabars and come in my favorite kind. COCONUT!

And on a completly non-Whole30 note I went ombre yesterday which for me is a BIG step. I'v been Ms. Blonde Highlights since I was about 14. Love the change though! 

Whole 30 Day 24

Meal 1:
Green smoothie
In the mix: coconut water, apple juice, mango, pineapple, banana, celery, spinach

Meal 2:
BEAT Salad plus green onions & red peppers!

Meal 3:
Strawberry Kombucha, coconut cream larabar, handful of raisins and almonds

Friday WOD

Plus lots and lots of deadlifts & good mornings. legs = done.