We are half way through this Whole 30 plan. ???? And, I’m checking in at the completion of week two because I said I would.  And, trust me.  You are all making me accountable.    ????

The Whole 30 – The Completion of Week Two

This past week had many ups and downs.  The physical detox symptoms were for the most part over.  And with that, I mean I had no headaches and irritability like I did in the first week.  But bouts of I-can’t-do-this-shit-any-longer reared its ugly head between both Deb and I.  I’m being completely honest.  There were two points this past week that I personally said out loud, “????????F*@k it.  I’m done.  I don’t care.”  And then I thought of all of you.  How could I possibly write these posts and get on Instagram and Facebook and tell lies. I mean, really, how would you know if I was telling the truth or not? ????????‍♀️ I could claim to be following the program while washing potato chips down the old hatch with a cold beer.  But, me being me… there is no way.  I cannot tell lies.  So, YOU made me stick to it.  And, I thank you.  ????

The Reasons for My Meltdowns on the Whole 30

There was nothing going on major in my life when I had those two meltdowns.  And, if I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t hungry.  I’m not hungry at all on the Whole 30.  When I am hungry, I eat.  It’s plain and simple.  It’s what I am NOT eating that’s causing the turmoil inside.   This goes for Deb (the meat-eater) too.  She said she is just bored with it all.

You know the anticipation of a pizza being delivered?  Or a cake being baked?  Or the time between your order and the waitress bringing your food to the table?  You get so excited and almost get a high just thinking about it.  Ya…. well there’s none of that.   There is no “high” thinking about a plate full of vegetables with a side of nuts.  (OK… I could throw a dirty joke in right here… but I will just leave it be….????)

Let’s Review…. Shall We?

As you read in my first week recap, sugar is a real bad thing for your body.  Ideally your sugar levels should stay even.  I found myself desperately missing the rush that my body gets when consuming sugar and carbs.   ????   Projects get completed at record speed and it literally makes me happy inside.  I was tired of remaining boring… lifeless.  ???? Those are the words I described to Deb.

On a side note:  The person, whom I love deeply, who has kicked the heroin demon, has told me that sugar is just as hard or harder to stop than drugs.  That should tell us all something.  I believe it’s because sugar is in everything we eat.  And we HAVE to eat to survive.  It’s a vicious never-ending cycle for some people.

What Helped Me Through

I truly felt dead inside.  If I had to look at another plate of vegetables with a side of nuts, I was going to barf.  ???? (Remember, I’m vegetarian.)   No matter how you cook, bake, or steam a vegetable, it’s still a vegetable.  Like I said above, I was missing my highs of a sugar buzz.  I wanted excitement.  Deb suggested a fruit smoothie.  I had to look up what the book said about fruit smoothies because I knew I could eat fruit, but the amount is limited.

Here is a direct quote from The Whole 30 Guide regarding smoothies (page 72):

“Smoothies:  We’d rather you didn’t… Smoothies (generally made with lots of fruit) are technically compliant on your Whole 30, but we strongly recommend against them.  Food that you drink sends different satiety signal to your brain than food that you chew.  So when you drink your meal, your brain isn’t getting the feedback it needs to tell your body that you’ve eaten – and you get hungry again fast, even though you just ingested plenty of calories……”

I went back and forth with what my next decision was going to be.  Should I or shouldn’t I?

The Decision I Made for MYSELF

So, technically, smoothies are allowed on the Whole 30 plan, they just would rather us not.  In my mind, it was either eat a smoothie, or lose my monkey-ass mind.  I chose to eat a very chunky fruit smoothie that I had to chew, made with frozen berries and coconut milk.  And let me tell you, it was the very best decision in the world for me to do.   It didn’t do anything to me as far as cravings of wanting more, which is something that may happen with some people due to the sugar in fruit. I made a total of two this entire week.   And both of them satisfied me the entire evening and gave me a feeling of calmness that I was craving.

Don’t call the Whole 30 police on me.  ????????‍♀️  And don’t run right out and make a smoothie because I did.  We are all different and must listen to our own bodies.  My body was very happy and content.  ????

Another Little Trick that Helped Me Get Through the Blahs

The “blahs” are exactly how Deb and I both describe our feelings at the completion of week two.  We were both very bored with it all.   We weren’t hungry, just bored.   Deb came up with a very good trick.  You all know that potatoes are allowed on this program.  She ran a few potatoes through the old spiralizer -like this one and let them dry for a few minutes on a piece of paper towel.   She then tossed them with a little olive oil and baked them on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.   They came out crispy like hash browns.   They were delicious!   ????  Let me know if any of you try that method and what you think about it.  Oh….. and DO NOT SALT UNTIL THEY COME OUT OF THE OVEN.

More Thoughts on This Week

Basically everything wrapped up in a few sentences.  We need to do what our bodies are telling us to do.  If you are ready to jump off of a cliff, make a “We’d-rather-you-didn’t” fruit smoothie and see if that helps.   Make yourself some healthy hash browns.  Because, it’s better than a lot of other alternatives.

For those of you hanging in there with me… ???????? you rock.  For the rest of you that are thinking about jumping on the band wagon, go for it!!!   Buy the book.  You can do it….one day at a time!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog.  You KNOW I pledge my love to each and every one of you!!!!

Buh bye now, said in an old lady’s voice who is going to stick with lots of the rules of the Whole 30 because she feels different – in a good way.

Danelle