Here we are, day 22 of #whole30november … 8 days to go!

A quick update: I caught a cold, my face broke out, and my skin is dry. Who’s to blame – Whole30 or November? Other than that, things are peachy keen, I am still alive and feel good enough to continue along on this fun journey.

Week 3 feels like life in my late-thirties… I’ve accepted where I’m at – it’s not always great but I am doing fine… although yesterday Mike said, “you’re looking prun-ish” so I am not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, I received a request to share what I’ve been eating so here we go (please don’t use me as a positive role model – I am figuring things out as I go along, aiming to get through each day).

Breakfast: I am trying to avoid eggs for breakfast because they’re the most filling thing I eat and it’s best to save them for lunch or dinner when I am really hungry. Instead, I have my usual black coffee and either a kale smoothie (sometimes with almond milk) or my “cheat” – paleo naan bread, which in my opinion is not a cheat because the three ingredients are compliant. Mike makes a batch and I heat up one and top it with fruit. Voila, that will hold me over until lunch. Another good option my mom came up with is homemade tapioca: 1tbsp of compliant tapioca + 1 cup of coconut or almond milk + a whisked egg – bring to a boil and simmer. Add raisins and fruit. Enjoy, it’s filling!

Naan with bananas and raspberries
Tapioca with bananas and raspberries
Naan with blueberries
A boiled egg

Lunch: Usually a quick spinach salad, homemade soup from the freezer or leftovers. Often, it’s just multiple snacks (see below).

Salad
Homemade carrot and sweet potato soup with some spinach tossed in

Snacks: Ants on a log (made with almond butter), raw nuts (not peanuts), Lara Bars, dates and clementines or veggies cut up. (I blame the dates for not losing weight.)

Ants on a log!

Supper: My favourite dinner has been the frittata, another good one is zoodles (zucchini spiralized) with shrimp and a homemade “peanut” Thai sauce (using almond butter). I have had spaghetti squash with tomato sauce, lots of roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, homemade salsa and guacamole with eggs, sauteed spinach and mushrooms and I try and have fish every two days or so. The biggest fail was spiralized sweet potatoes with a cashew sauce. I ate three bites and tossed it… one of the lowest points.

This is what dining out looks like – Smitty’s
Fish with spiralized sweet potato, homemade salsa & guacamole
Homemade (compliant) gnocchi
Frittata
Cauliflower rice with a curry sauce + a piece of salmon

*** 

I may or may not be getting enough calories, but I have been cutting back on running and do not plan to start training again until December. The one positive thing I must say is I have not been bloated or uncomfortable after eating! I have never felt full, and after the first few days, I am no longer feeling hungry frequently throughout the day. Like I’ve said before, this diet is not my thing – I feel like I’m missing substance and flavour, but at the same time, I am happy that it’s forcing me to make smart choices especially when life is hectic. It’d be so much easier to plunge my hand into a box of cereal and call it lunch as I try and squeeze in a full-time job at the same time as being a ‘stay at home’ mom + multiple trips to the pool weekly + running + pottery classes… Guys, it’s not easy! (queue the violins).

Really, despite my occasional pity party, it’s all really doable. I will be happy to make it to the end, and I will be most happy to call up my dear friend Sal and order a sandwich!

*Note, notice how I shift back and forth between the good and bad? Yep, it’s also something I noticed – I am totally all over the place these days. Easily distracted – is this a part of detoxing?  

Week 2 / Week 1

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