Whole30 Recap.

Although my posts have been slacking from my Whole30 journey (See Week 1 & 2)... it doesn't reflect on my progress!  

Last week, I finished 30 grueling days of NO Sugar. Beans. Grains. Alcohol. Processed food. 

Which included engagement celebrations, work events and family functions (in which i really, really needed a bev or 12), but I steered clear of the overly processed, sugar laden foods. 

And you know what?? I survived. 

Actually. I really really enjoyed it. 

Obviously there were hard parts. 

Traveling was not easy. There are very, very few things that you can find while doing a road trip. In hindsight, it would have been best to pack some food. (see point below). I learned that when you go to Wendy's and ask for a salad for No Cheese, they put cheese on it. Cool. 

Secondly, the planning of each and every meal is AWESOME. But it's also time consuming. And sometimes you just don't have time to figure out every morsel that you are going to put in your mouth that week. 

Finally. You realize 99% of your social schedule is organized around FOOD AND ALCOHOL. But guess what. You don't need alcohol to have fun. I learned to load up on soda water and lime, and you'll be just fine. AND You'll remember what happened that night (Yeah, I'm talking to you). 

And the best parts? Just to name a few: 

Clear skin.

Awesome Sleep. 

Fun new recipes. 

ZERO stomach problems. For real tho'.

You CRAVE water. And good food. 

RESULTS. I lost 5 pounds, my workouts felt better and all around feel amazing.

Althoguh I stuffed my face with chips and gauc (and tequila. holla) from Cantina this past weekend once it ended, Whole30 has really made an influence on how I want to live my day-to-day life.

I’m going to work really hard to continue to eliminate a lot of those foods from my diet because it makes me feel SO GOOD. 

(And shout out to Harley, who lost 15 pounds and is no longer downing soda or Monster drinks). 

So, CHEERS to good health and feeling great. 

Have you tried Whole30? What did you think? 

Whole30 Update: Week 2

I’m turning into a chicken. 

Not in a sense that I’m being a wimp, but more of my daily diet consists of chicken and eggs and I’m starting to sprout feathers. 

Kidding. Kind of. 

So, I’ve made it to week 2 of Whole30. Cue the champagne sparkling water.

{Read more about my Whole30 plan here} 

Overall, I've really enjoyed it so far. It has made me more conscious about the food (and lack of chemicals) I am putting in my body, forced me to plan ahead and I. feel. amazing. 

I'm sleeping better, I can tell my skin is getting clearer, and I'm having zero stomach issues. 

Granted, the first three days I was ready to chew someone's head off - and nap - all the time. But once you get past day 4, you feel great. 

I've tried a few new recipes as well {Note: Salmon cakes were my only fail} - which are all quick (30-50 minutes total prep and cook) - and haven't felt limited when going out to dinner. 

I even resisted wine, Tito's and free shots. #WILLPOWER. 

Below are a few shots of meals I've made / eaten out. 

The hardest part for me so far is to turn off my automation when going shopping or going out to eat. I have to look at EVERY SINGLE LABEL for added sugars and chemicals. 

I've learned that companies put sugar in EVERYTHING. 

Ways companies put sugar in foods: 

____ Sugar (brown sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar, beet sugar, etc)

____ Syrup (high fructose corn syrup, malt syrup, rice syrup)

Dextrose

Disccharide

Fructose

Galactose

Lactose

Maltose 

Monnosccharide

Plolysaccharide

Ribose

Saccharose

Sucrose

Find the full list HERE

Things to avoid while on Whole30: 

• Carrageenan: A thickening, gelling agent (FOUND IN ALMOND MILK). Go look in your fridge. I bet it's in your almond milk!
• Corn Starch: Grain-based thickening agent. 
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): Flavor enhancer found in canned tuna or broth (also - I bet there is added sugar in your broth!)
• Soy Lechtin: Soy-based emulsifier found. in. everything. (Check your almond milk again... or even your tea bags)
• Sulfites (aka Sulfur Dioxide, Sodium Bisulfite, Potassium Metabisulfite) Found in a lot of things - but check for them in dried fruit or canned coconut milk. 

Just be conscious of these while you are looking to purchase things at the store.

Overall, I'm actually enjoying it. I'm going to make more of an effort to plan this week my meals (which may be hard since I'm traveling for work the second half of the week) and try new recipes! 

Here's a meal planner template for you to use as well!

Do you have any good Whole30 Recipes?