All Right, We're Back in Business (Whole30v2, Day 1)

Well, I did remember to weigh and measure this morning. That's a relief. I'd have felt like a world-class moron if I'd forgotten again.

As of this morning I'd only gained back 2 of the 20 lbs I lost in the last W30, which is encouraging. I also took measurements for:

Upper Arm
Bust (ribs)
Waist
Several points along my abdomen (my waist location changes when I lose/ gain weight...I'm long waisted (short waisted? I can never remember which is which; my waist and hips are far apart)
Thigh

So hopefully we'll see some changes there at the end of this W30, as well.

My friend Jessica started her own Whole30 yesterday!

Had some eggs for breakfast and now...to do some chores. :-p I'm thinking of heading to the museum later since it's my one day off before starting the new gig, but there are a few things I definitely need to get done first.

On an Ordinary Sunday (Whole30v2, Day 0)

I got up, I was rarin' to start another month of clean eating, I joined Panda at our favorite diner and got an omelet with chicken, avocado, onions and mushrooms and some fresh fruit...and halfway through drinking my black coffee I realized I hadn't weighed myself this morning, or taken any measurements.

God. Dammit.

I stepped on the scale when we got home, but before it could even register (I do not need to see how much I gained from breakfast PLUS five days of junk food), I stepped off and decided I would officially start tomorrow. The clean eating begins today, as planned, but tomorrow morning (I don't start the new gig until Tuesday so I have the day off) I'll take measurements and step on the scale. The program itself will be 31 days long including today, but the weight loss and measurements will be calculated based on 30 days. Does that make sense? I hope so, because I don't know how else to explain it.

I know I will have gained weight from the break between Whole30s. I feel bloated and kinda gross. Definitely won't go so overboard next time. I'm hoping a lot of it is bloat/ water and will come off quickly. I know I'll feel a little better after a few days of Whole30v2.

My friend Jen asked about the Whole30 so I loaned her "It Starts With Food." Another friend messaged me on FB with questions. It may be that more people join in on this round, which could be kind of great!

Anyway. Because I'm a flippin' DUNCE my second Whole30 will officially start tomorrow. Today begins the eating, though, as well as the evening walks which Panda's agreed to do with me.

Goals for my Second Whole30:

1. Don't get sick. Last time I think my results were hindered by the fact that I caught the creeping death that everyone was suffering this winter.
2. Add in regular exercise, whether it's walks in the evening or actual C25K workouts which I'm hoping to incorporate. If I want real weight-loss and fitness results I sincerely do need to get off my ass and be active.
3. Match or exceed my weight loss from W30v1. It's a lot, but I have a lot to lose. Also, tomorrow's starting weight will include a lot of retained water from the 5-day break, and I'll be working out more as well. Also, I will be paying closer attention to starchy vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes. They are yummy and healthy, but I think if I limit them a bit more I'll see better results in losing weight.
4. Add in better sleep habits. I won't be rehearsing or performing during this 30 (sorry...31)-day period so I will be disciplined about being in bed by or before 11PM. Sleeping better will help A LOT of things.
5. Eat breakfast every day. Last time I would often forget or grab an avocado or something at work. I hypothesize that I'll feel better and build better habits in general if I can at least get up in time for some fried eggs and coffee each morning.

We saw some friends in "Sunday in the Park with George" last night. I liked it better than I thought I would! The only trouble is that now I have several of the songs stuck in my brain. 

Sundaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy. . . . . . . .

The Human Slug (Whole30 Day +2) (Whole30v2 Day -?)

Ok, so I have totally figured out why people do more than one of these, or extend them to a Whole45 or longer.

I went a little overboard yesterday on the treats, and this morning I felt like complete and total crap.

SO! Today I packed a lunch that (mostly) conforms to Whole30 standards, although there is barbecue sauce involved which isn't approved. I'm drinking coffee with a little bit of Half&Half (again, they don't have cream here) and like a quarter of a packet of Splenda...but you know something? It really doesn't add that much to it. Unless I'm having a mocha or something, I think I'm actually ok drinking my coffee black even when I'm not on a Whole30.

Weird.

I considered beginning my second Whole30 today, given how food-hangover-y I felt last night and this morning, but I think being relaxed about it for the next few days is good before going all out again on Sunday. Friday the Stanford folks having a going-away thing for me and Manuel (who's also leaving) and I'd like to be able to order straight off the menu and maybe have a glass of wine.

Omigod though, I'm so glad I didn't have alcohol last night. That combined with the sugar hangover would have been excruciating this morning.

Anyway, just wanted to make a note of that. Maybe my preferences are changing (I'm not that tempted by cream for my coffee) but treats will be easy to keep few and far between, I think. I never would have predicted that. I don't even think I went that overboard yesterday, but after an espresso with cream, a panini at lunch, barbecue beef at dinner and a few pieces of chocolate and like a quarter of Panda's caramel apple, I felt the way my former self might have after six McDonald's value meals and one of those "mount bellyache" sundaes. Yesterday's eating was like...almost what normal used to be. I don't think I felt all sick and hungover normally, but maybe I felt worse than this and just didn't notice because I was used to it?... odd. You'd think I'd have noticed feeling way better while on the Whole30.

Ah well. Just wanted to make sure I wrote it down. I do want to be better about recording my feelings as this whole adventure continues. Will update with goals/ plans for the second one soon.

Well, It's Official. (Whole30, Day +1) (Whole30v2, Day -5)

20 pounds. EXACTLY 20. I couldn't believe how on the nose it was (in fact, I weighed myself three times this morning). I'm glad, but mostly I'm relieved. If 20 lbs in 30 days is possible for my first Whole30, I know I can keep up the good progress for the next one (which I've decided I will do, and which will start on Sunday the 22nd, in 5 days).

Here's how my goals for this Whole30 shook out:

1. To identify any food sensitivities I may have, which have negatively impacted my health and/or weight. I didn't notice anything really strange, although when I got sick (which really sucked, I'll reiterate, being on a restrictive diet) I noticed that I didn't stay horribly ill for too long. And even though I was plagued by phlegm in the aftermath of the Cold From Hell, it wasn't as bad as it sometimes is when I'm sick. This is likely because I wasn't having dairy. Other than that I didn't notice any remarkable changes in my feeling of wellbeing, other than the few days when I was waking up earlier (which I haven't recaptured since being sick, despite no longer taking Nyquil pills/ Ibuprofen).
2. To lose some weight and improve my skin/ hair/ nails. I hit my crazy goal of 20 pounds in a month, which is pretty great, considering that I was eating more carbohydrates than I usually do (these are healthful carbs as opposed to buttered toast and cookies, haha). My skin is, alas, still my acne-ridden skin, but I do have a theory about this: my skin is typically its clearest and best when I am working out and sweating on the regular. These past 30 days, while I was mildly active, I wasn't really devoted to exercise the way I have been in my past weight-loss campaigns and that may have a lot to do with the fact that my skin's still not cooperating. I have a few months before my next stint of rehearsals begin, and so with my evenings off I'm going to check the next box on my 2015 resolutions (doing a Couch to 5K). Even if I'm not weightlifting or running a marathon, training myself to jog longer distances and making the effort each afternoon/ evening to be active will, I hypothesize, maximize my results in the next Whole30. And if I can knock off another 20 pounds or at least fit into the next jeans size down, so much the better!
3. To give myself a realistic timeframe, and a reference point for future health projects. Having the 30-Day time period, and sticking to it (I broke the Whole30 this morning with a mini-shot of espresso with cream and Splenda) helped immeasurably. I didn't have any crazy cravings, although the cereal dream was a bit of a trip, and I was able to find something to eat or drink wherever I was. Nobody gave me a hard time about the way I was eating, with the exception of Luis (one of the lead custodians here at work, who's helping me with my Spanish and really REALLY wanted me to have some cookies the other day), but eventually he understood and all my friends have been very supportive. A few have even inquired about the program themselves!

So there you have it, folks. Dana accomplished one of the more challenging items on her 2015 Resolutions (and hey, February's not even over yet!). I feel like this is a great tool to be healthier and lose more weight, and I feel like I can improve upon my performance with Whole30v2.

Back to work :-)

It's Almost Over! (Whole30, Day 30)

Tomorrow's the big day! Gonna weigh myself in the morning and update y'all (and likely FB and Twitter as well) on the big numbers.

My pie-in-the-sky hope is 20 lbs down. Fingers crossed. Definitely should have taken measurements, too, but if there is a next time I'll be better prepared and take more metrics to begin (for a more interesting, informed and -hopefully- dramatic results post).

Perhaps tonight I will legitimately finish "It Starts With Food." Heh. Skimming doesn't count. Whoops.

Tonight's dinner was Spicy Tuna Cakes, again. Can't get enough of those things.

Phew. Big deep breaths. Think positive!

Encouraging Comments (Whole30, Day 27)

Is it much farther, Papa Smurf?
Not far now. . .

President Obama's on campus today so everyone's anticipating traffic turmoil. I'm hoping by midafternoon when I have to head to Gilroy (from Stanford...already a bitch of a commute without the added drama of a celebrity in town) things have calmed down a bit. Friday commutes are always worse than earlier in the week for some reason.

It's closing weekend of Rose's Dilemma!

After that I have a couple of months of evenings off (with the exception of learning/ rehearsing music for a summer one-night concert, hereafter detailed), and then I'll be performing in The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare San Jose) in May and June, The Genius of Leonard Bernstein (one-night event, SBMT Saratoga, early June) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in August/ September (Pintello, in Gilroy).

The Gilroy commute won't be nearly as bad at that point, since in a little over a week I'm starting my new day job in South San Jose.

My skin is still...the same skin. :-( I'm drinking more water in the hopes that I can at least have some dramatic "after" photos, but it doesn't look like this way of eating has changed my skin or improved my acne. Which is very disappointing, but hey, I didn't expect everything to work out perfectly.

Several coworkers have commented that I've lost weight, however. I very much hope this is true. I haven't really noticed a change, although I can get my smaller jeans on (I bought a size down, on sale, in the hopes that I'd eventually be able to wear them when I lost enough weight.) They now go all the way up, and over my butt, but they don't button yet. Previously they couldn't get all the way up my legs! So, I can't wear them yet, but that's something. On Day 31 (or really, Day +1 as I plan on having a glass of wine to celebrate the 30 days of clean eating), I'll weigh myself and see what the numbers are. I should have measured myself beforehand, too. Whoops.

If nothing else, I know that eating meat and vegetables and fruit (and eschewing alcohol, sugar, grains and even dairy) is possible and sustainable. I could absolutely do another Whole30, and I likely will. I have a lot of weight to lose and a lot of health to recover. :-)

Today's lunch! The sausage is, miraculously, Whole30-Compliant. Yum!

Setbacks, Home Stretch and One Major Relief (Whole30 Day 24)

Hmm. I'm thinking for my next Whole30, if there is one, I should figure a way to update each day. Even something small like "today I figured out you can have kombucha, so I had two" or "why the fuck hasn't my skin cleared up yet."

Both of which occurred to me yesterday, when I probably should have updated.

My skin, which I was using as a barometer for how this whole thing was going, is still very oily and plagued by clogged pores, blemishes, and general nastiness. So, I'm thinking I should contact a dermatologist and get on a system that actually works. If not a prescription ($$$$) then at least a simply daily system with ingredients that work. I'm 30, I hate having the skin of a hormonal 15 year old. :-(

Last weekend I got sick, and being sick while on Whole30 was freaking awful. Not only was I unable to have cough syrup or cough drops to soothe my sore (and later mind-shreddingly frustratingly itchy) throat, but I felt like any wellness benefits from this way of eating were completely eliminated by the bastard virus that took over my system for a few days. That, coupled with the stress of a job hunt, was just...unhealthy. And led to several food-related dreams, last night's being pretzels and other crunchy salty snacks. Sigh.

One good thing: The job hunt is over. I was offered and accepted a temp-to-hire position at an agency where I've worked before, in San Jose (making commutes via home and theatre much more manageable). The temp salary is higher than what I'm making now, and I assume will improve upon fulltime hire in about six-eighteen months, in addition to the benefits which will be awesome (just getting off of CoveredCA will be awesome, too.) Last day at Stanford is 2/20, first day (back) at Classic Vacations is 2/23. It's not big money and it's not immediately perm, but it's a good deal. And it's doable. I'll settle for doable right now.

Only a few days left of the Whole30 and I very much hope to have lost (at least) 20 lbs by the time I weigh in on Day 31. (Day +1?). Cross your fingers for me.

Finally Noticed Something. Also I'm %#*$^% Sick. (Whole30 Day 18)

Sorry I suck so bad at updating. It's probably a good thing I'm not a famous blogger, or people would be really pissed off. Heh.

I'm over halfway done with my Whole30, and while I think now and again about how much I'd like some cheese, or a chocolate chip cookie or an Irish coffee, it's not any horrible all-emcompassing craving. I really believe having the 30-day timespan on it makes it much more manageable. Like, "I'm not having those things right now, but once this is over maybe I'll have some before starting another 30-day thing."

That's right, I could definitely do another Whole30 after this one. It's not ideal (I mean...cheese) but it's completely manageable and doable. Even on days when I've forgotten my lunch I've always found something simple I can eat, and then I make a bigger dinner at home.

I know this is pie-in-the-sky-like, but the number of pounds I'm hoping to have lost this month is 20. Yes, I know 20 pounds in a month is a stupid high number, but I'm way behind in the weight I'd meant to lose in the past 10 months (let's face it...the last 8 years) and because I have so much extra, I think it's possible.

If on Day 31 (not going to weigh myself on Day 30; that's still part of the program) I've dropped 20 lbs (granted likely a combination of water and fat but whatever) I will go three days on a relaxed eating plan, mostly the same foods but having cheese and the occasional blessing of my Éireannach ancestors in my coffee, or a piece of chocolate or something, nothing ridiculous. Then I'll start another Whole30 and possibly extend it to a Whole45. I'm not feeling any inclination to push it longer than that...I think it's probably doable, but I like the idea of having a few relaxed days every month or so, not to binge or drink myself stupid but to have a treat or something so my brain doesn't panic and go "holy crap we're never having cake again OH MY GOD depression!"

Anyway--OH RIGHT I FORGOT.

Two things.

1: I am sick. I kissed Panda (a lot) while he was sick (he's my boyfriend, we live together, it's kind of a habit, SHUT UP) and on Sunday started to notice the telltale tickle in my throat. By Monday it was a raging painful sore throat, along with sore muscles and general misery, and I woke up at 5:30AM crying because I don't get sick pay and I really couldn't afford to take the day off. I did anyway - I don't want to get my coworkers sick, and Panda insisted. He stayed home with me too, and I slept most of the day. Yesterday I had the mega-sniffles (and came in to work) and today the sniffles have abated and I'm mostly coughing up grossness from what feels like the bowels of my lungs. Yes, that's a thing. Anyway being sick on Whole30 kind of sucks because you can't have cough syrup or cough drops (I'd have given anything on Monday for a big bottle of Tylenol with codeine...that stuff they had me on when I had my tonsils out...numbs the pain and knocks you out), and of course you can't have alcohol (my usual remedy when I'm sick is either hot tea with whiskey or a single shot, before bed.) But, thankfully I had a bunch of chicken broth made up and frozen, and I've been drinking tea to beat the band. I actually think avoiding dairy has helped me have less yuck in my throat and lungs...although to be honest I avoid dairy when I'm sick anyway. The main thing I miss are cough drops and syrups. But what can you do. Each day I feel a little bit better.

2. I've finally FINALLY noticed one of those things you're supposed to feel on a Whole30. I've started waking up before my alarm. I'm not jumping out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (especially now that I'm sick), BUT. I'll wake up sometime around 5:30 or 5:45, and even though I'm still kind of tired and go back to sleep to wait for the alarm, I did *notice* that I woke up. That never, *ever* happened before. I HATE waking up. I LOVE sleeping. But one of the purported benefits of this way of eating is waking up without a fight and being more alert during the day. It's a little thing to wake up before my alarm, but it never happened until I attempted the Whole30. So that's something.

My skin's still not...great, but it's better than it was before. I'm sure some of it is problematic because a) I'm in a show and wearing heavy makeup on weekends, b) stress about work and everything, and c) I'm sick. But still, it's better than it was before. Even with a chapped red nose. *Sniffle*.

That's basically it. Still applying/ interviewing for a ton of jobs, no bites yet. Most promising options right now are a second interview I have on Friday for the department of pediatric hematology at Stanford Hospital, and a first interview I have on Tuesday for a recruiting/ admin position at a medicalert company where my friend Shelby works.

Please cross your fingers for me! If I can lose 20 lbs and land a job before this Whole30 is over, I'll never question another kooky Paleo-phile ever again!

...but I'm still not going to say I eat "paleo." That's just...that's just silly.

Happy Wednesday. <3