Whole30 Round 2 Day 10 - 12

Memorial Day Weekend is my favorite holiday to spend in NYC. The city empties out because everyone is going to the beach - the streets are empty and quiet and everything seems so peaceful. I was walking along St. Marks Street Saturday morning and I was the only one on the block. Nobody was in my way; my pace was slow, my head was up, and I was smiling while I walk. It's rare, but it was a moment that I had to myself to enjoy the city!

Saturday morning began with a wonderful and filling meal 1. Leftover chocolate chili with fried eggs and brussel sprouts. Ryan said it basically looked like last nights dinner! Which it was.

I was so full from breakfast that I didn't even need a pre-workout meal before I headed to SoHo to take my Level 2 Bar Method class. I am always nervous when I go into the studio for Level 2. It's all mental though. I have been taking class for over 4 years, that's over 530 classes, I know what I am doing. But Level 2 is a bit intimidating all on its own because you have to be on your game - you have to know how to set up, how to adjust yourself and how to push yourself harder than you ever would. But Amanda's class was incredible and I am so glad I went. I am so glad I made going to a Level 2 class one of my Whole30 goals because it pushed me to go to the afternoon class and work my glutes off! I was shaking and crying on the inside but I left the studio feeling so strong.

After class I walked to Hu Kitchen to get lunch and Ryan and I sat outside at the park and ate. We got the vegetable pasta salad and fish sticks. All in all a good meal - we really didn't want meat since we were so full from chili two meals in a row. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and watching TV and Ryan studied for the GRE's. This is basically how the rest of our summer will be!

Meal 3 was absolutely delicious. We made spaghetti squash with pesto (Trader Joe's is Whole30 approved) and steamed clams. It was a summer treat and reminded me of my dad's pasta vongele that he makes in Fire Island all the time. I found out later that my parents made the same dish, just without the pesto, while they were at the beach! Ryan and I rented a movie and got comfortable on the couch for the rest of the evening!

Sunday we woke up really early - 6am early. We needed to eat Meal 1 and get ready to head to the Statue of Liberty! Meal 1 was a spinach and tomato omelet with chorizo. I found sugar free chorizo at a grocery store near our house and I guess it is going to be bought weekly because Ryan proclaimed it's his favorite!!

We headed down to Battery Park to catch the boat and by 9am and were at Liberty State Park. We climbed the 357 stairs to the crown - it was a difficult steep climb, but the views were absolutely beautiful! We walked around the statue taking in the gorgeous views and sights and then got back on the boat to go to Ellis Island. It was only 10am still and we felt like we had already done so much! We got to Ellis Island and walked around the rooms where immigrants came when trying to enter the United States. We also went to the Wall of Honor and I found my family member, Samuel David Chriss, who passed through Ellis Island! By 11am we were back on the ferry and back in the city.

 

 

 

Stairway to the crown!

 

 

Inside the crown!

 

We were starving before noon since we had meal 1 so early but we held strong and did not have our emergency RxBars. We walked from Battery Park to SoHo and ended up at Dos Caminos for lunch. We were seated and looked over the menu and knew that with Mexican Cuisine we would have to do some substitutions and eliminations to make it Whole30 approved - we just didn't realize how difficult some kitchens could be. First we asked if the tacos could be turned into salads - Ryan wanted fish tacos and I wanted carnitas. We were told absolutely no, the kitchen was really strict about that. Strict about what? Taking the same meat and serving it over a plate of lettuce and saving the tacos? Hmmm. Okay. So then we both ordered the cobb salad; I had mine with grilled shrimp and Ryan had his with grilled chicken. We told the waiter, no corn, no tortilla strips, no beans, no cheese. He looked at us after we ordered and laughed and said "I see you guys are on a diet." I said "actually no, we just can't physically eat those items." We also put in an order for guacamole and told him to hold the tortilla chips (free) and send over a plate of crunchy vegetables ($5). Well, we got 6 vegetables for an entire bowl of guacamole and paid for it in comparison to the free bottomless bowl of chips. The food came out and although it looked delicious, it looked so plain. I guess that's what happens when you eliminate everything from the plate. I was just surprised that the kitchen didn't think to add more lettuce or vegetables since we didn't get anything else! Then I got mad - the waiter came over with a plate of rice, beans and cheese and said: "In case you change your mind!" In case I change my mind about what? About not wanted my stomach to hurt after I eat it, not wanting my acne to come back, not wanting to feel tired and run down? And even if I was on a diet like he thought I was, that was rude to put a plate of fattening cheese beans and rice in front of people who specifically asked for those items to be removed from the dish. Just because I didn't want it in my salad, doesn't mean I want it on my table! So for a bowl of guacamole, vegetables and 2 salads, we paid $70. Yeah, not ideal! But we didn't let it ruin our perfect day so we walked home through the park and enjoyed the beautiful weather!

We hung out on the couch when we got home at 2pm. It honestly felt like 5pm with all that we had done. We knew meal 3 would have to be early so Ryan and I split half an RxBar at 3:30pm. Not the best thing to eat, but obviously lunch wasn't that filling. Dinner was French Seasoned Lamb Ribs from Trader Joe's which I served with a side of zoodles topped with curry sweet potatoes from Hu Kitchen (apricots, almonds, potatoes, egg, apple cider vinegar) and prosciutto wrapped dates. Everything was delicious, but everything was very sweet. Ryan couldn't even finish his potatoes or dates because they were too sweet for him. What a difference 11 days make! After dinner, Ryan studied for the GRE's and I fell asleep early. I was so worn out and tired. The next morning Ryan admitted to having a late night snack of a frozen monkey muffin (banana, cashew, pecan, walnut, dates). He said the sugar rush from dinner made it so he craved more. I totally believe him and understand the hunger he felt, because, to be honest, I snuck one too when he was in the shower! It really must have been the sweet flavors that blocked the satiety from the fat of the lamb so we never got full. And also our early morning start and early lunch and early dinner didn't help either. But it was 1 day with a snack and with the amount of walking we did earlier, it's okay! We can't be too hard on ourselves. We didn't cheat or mess up Whole30.

Yesterday we had the day off from work so I went to Trader Joe's early to get some groceries for the week. I didn't get much because it is a short work week and I am off Friday and Friday night we are at the Yankee game. It was probably the least amount of money I ever spent on groceries for the week so we will see how long it lasts. Meal 1 was another spinach and tomato omelete with chorizo. We then went to Stuyvesant Oval to lay out and read for a little bit and then came back for Meal 2. Meal 2 was a tuna salad made with broccoli slaw and vegetables and Tessamae's lemon garlic dressing. We served it on top of romaine lettuce so it was like a taco (hmm, Dos Caminos should try that) and a small side of chocolate chili.

We then walked to SoHo and went to see "Fed Up," the new documentary about sugar and obesity in our society. It was so eye opening to see how the food industry is controlling our government and in turn controls us. Good thing we are doing Whole30 or this movie would have made us feel bad about ourselves. In one segment, it discussed what the recommended amount of sugar is (less than 6 tsp) and then should a typical day for most people who think they are eating healthy. A bowl of cereal with milk and OJ in the morning already has more than 6 tsp of sugar! Followed by a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, nutella for a snack and whole wheat pasta with sauce for dinner. All of this put people over 10x the recommended amount of sugar. And this was Ryan's typical healthy diet only 12 days ago! It also showed people "dieting" and using low fat, reduced fat and no fat products and diet food products like special k, weight watchers and lean cuisine and yet their weight actually increased the more they ate the diet foods. That's because it is all processed and not real food!

After the movie we walked home and Ryan went straight for the kitchen. He told me that he was going to make dinner tonight and I was instructed to stay out of the kitchen! Lucky me!

Dinner was incredible. Beyond perfect and I am so impressed and proud to see Ryan cooking whole30 approved meals that are so good for us! He made spicy almond encrusted chicken tenders (they had a great spice and kick to them), spaghetti squash with mixed vegetable salad (we made an extra spaghetti squash on Saturday since they take awhile to cook - so great to have this on hand to use) and bok choy in garlic. It was such a perfect dinner and we had no leftovers - which made me sad because I am craving chicken tenders right now.
 

I just have to remember to lessen my portion sizes. I feel like Ryan and I are eating the same amount of food which is not good. I am so much smaller than him and he needs more food for more energy so I need to watch how much I am eating with each meal. It's just so much easy to split everything half and half but I know I can't do that. Maybe that's also why Ryan is hungry sooner than me, because he is eating less than he should be. He served dinner 50/50 last night and of course I ate it because it was on my plate, but I probably should have had 2 chicken tenders and he should of had 6 instead of 4 and 4. Oh well, good thing I had 4 because they were really good!

It was a fabulous weekend and I feel relaxed and happy! I am also extremely sore and achy from all of the walking we did this weekend but it felt good to be outside and in the sun and enjoying the nice warm weather! It makes me so happy and in such a good mood!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend as well!
XO

Whole30 Round 2 Day 3

Today was a really great day! I was expecting Ryan to be a bit grumpy and tired - according to the daily email, day 3 is peak transition day. I don't think he is experiencing any signs of detox, probably because he was already gluten free (dairy was his biggest toxin), but he is a bit tired and moody. All things expected so I was surprised when he was eager for an early start to the day!

We woke up early and I made meal 1 - carrot, spinach and brussel sprouts hash with scrambled eggs and chicken sausage. It was a great use of leftovers and Ryan and I both cleared our plates. After a couple episodes of Nurse Jackie (sadly, we finished House of Cards), we left for Brooklyn Flea!

We hadn't been back to Brooklyn since we moved January 31 (except for a basketball game and concert at Barclay's) so we were really excited to walk around and see the neighborhood. We got to Fort Greene and after an hour at Brooklyn Flea, we walked to Brooklyn Heights. We went to Bareburger for lunch on Atlantic Avenue and ordered lettuce wrap burgers. I got lamb with grilled apples & onions, Ryan got jerk chicken with pickles, onions and tomato. What is a burger with fries? Well, Barbeurger has always used peanut oil to fry their appetizers, including sweet potato fries, so those are Whole30 out! However, on the menu it said "all appetizers are fried in non-GMO canola oil." Well to my surprise this meant it was Whole30 approved! We asked the waitress just to confirm the change in oils and she said they got rid of peanut oil from the restaurant!

Well, Bareburger sweet potato fries will not be categorized as SWYPO for me. Ryan and I split a basket, but I'm pretty sure I ate most of them. After the meal, we walked towards our old apartment! Along the way, Ryan discussed some of his struggles with Whole30. He said the hardest part of eating at a restaurant is smelling all of the foods you know you can't eat and feeling full and satisfied without bread (gluten free or not). However, he added, that once he left the restaurant, he felt full and happy. I understand exactly what he is going through - it's realizing that the healthier foods keep you fuller longer but sometimes they don't taste or smell as enticing. They aren't coated in sugar and chemicals - they are natural, they are delicious and they are so healthy. It is so much for Ryan to overcome eating a burger without a bun, but he did it, loved it and felt so much better walking out of BareBurger even after eating fries than he would have pre-Whole30.

Our walk to our old apartment was nostalgic. We missed the community and neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights but we are so happy in our apartment that we don't want to look back! I don't think we would be able to Whole30 in our old apartment. We didn't have a dishwasher so cooking 3 meals and prepping would be completely impossible. There wasn't enough counter space or fridge space or freezer space. There also wasn't a separation between kitchen and living room so we would have spent all day in one room. Also, in the summer, the oven made the apartment unbearably hot. And we didn't have a dining room table so we ate on the floor watching TV. Totally not Whole30 possible!

I hit my NikeFuel goal early on in the day wit the amount of walking we were doing in Brooklyn! When we got home, I marinated chicken and we rested on the couch and caught up on Game of Thrones. For dinner we were making nomnompaleo Chili-Lime Chicken Wings, salmon cakes and asparagus. The recipe calls to cook the chicken on a wired rack - we followed the instructions and cooking time exactly but the chicken wasn't crisping the way it should have so after 40 minutes of cooking, we took the chicken off the wire and put it directly on the backing sheet. The chicken browned and got crispy right away and tasted so much better! Ryan made salmon cakes using Trader Joe's canned salmon, almond flour, eggs and scallions. And the asparagus was oven-roasted with coconut oil. It was a delicious dinner and I think it will keep Ryan full the rest of the night so he doesn't feel the need to snack!

 

Tomorrow I am going to Trader Joe's early before the huge crowds/lines to stock up on groceries for the week and items I need to family dinner. I also want to take Ryan to Hu Kitchen so he knows what to order if he does have a night when he really doesn't want to cook or clean! We also want to check out the Farmer's Market at the Stuyvesant Oval that is open all summer. Might be a really great place to get local vegetables!

I didn't go to Bar Method today and won't make it tomorrow but I have a lot of activity from all of the walking we are doing so I am not worried. I love spring in NYC - I am so much more active and wanting to get out of the house and be outside. It makes me so much happier!

I hope everyone has a great night!

XO

The sweetest surrender of winter, She put up a flag it is waving. The thunder of summer is rumbling in.

March seems to be flying by and when we moved our clocks forward this past weekend, the days are finally getting longer. Although this is great for the evenings when the sun doesn't set so early and I can walk home from work or feel more productive with my day, it also means the mornings are darker so it is much harder to get up for Bar Method! But spring and summer will soon be here and hopefully it will bring beautiful sunny days (after this next prediction of cold and snow for this week of course)!

March has been very busy. Every weekend we seem to be going out, eating out, staying out late and not sleeping as much. As fun as everything is, I can feel it in my body and the effect it is having. The first weekend of March we ate the 16 course meal at Eleven Madison, This past Friday we had burgers and fries before the Avett Brothers concert in Brooklyn, Saturday we went out to dinner with my parents and this coming weekend we have dinner plans Friday with friends and Saturday we are going to our favorite pizza restraint, Nizza, which now serves gluten free polenta crust before going to see Bryan Cranston in "All The Way." I love the excitement of being busy, seeing friends, having fun and living every minute of this month to the fullest, but eating out every weekend is not only expensive, but my body feels it as well. I feel the salt in the meals, the extra larger portions that I am not in control of, the appetizer, entree and desserts that I am eating and the tiredness I feel from being out late and not being able to wake up early for a Bar Method class the next day. Living a healthy lifestyle is about control and moderation though. I can't not go out with friends or to dinner with Ryan just because I don't want to eat badly. There are healthy options on all menus including salads, grilled chicken and fish. But it's also good to indulge and not deprive otherwise it does not become fun to live a healthy lifestyle because you end up resenting everyone else.

Because we have also been so busy on weekends, I have made it a point to cook meals at home for dinner that has plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day! We have done a few Fresh Direct orders and have purchased pre-marinated meats that require little effort other than to put them in the oven and create a side dish! Last Sunday (after our filling meal at Eleven Madison) I made peppercorn petite filet with a side of sweet mashed yams (Fresh Direct 4 minute sides in a snap) and a brussel sprout and red onion salad on the side. The meat cooked in the oven for 25 minutes and was a perfect medium rare. The meal was so simple and it came with 3 filets so we cooked 2 and froze 1. I was able to make steak salad for lunch Monday and Tuesday from the leftovers! It saved a lot of time, money and energy! And the meat was delicious!

Wednesday night I made one of Ryan's favorite dishes, tilapia with a balsamic butter sauce. Tilapia is really easy to make and does not produce a fishy smell when cooked which makes it the perfect protein! The sauce is really light and flavorful and the butter is so decadent! The sauce is made by melting 2 tbsp of butter in a sauce pan and letting it brown. You then add 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and let it simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens. Pour it over the fish (or any protein or vegetables) and enjoy! Our meal (half a pound of tilapia each) was 7 points and we served broccoli and carrots on the side. Another easy meal to make at home. The fish took about 10 minutes to cook!

I also made a lot of Quest Bar desserts this past week. The protein meal replacement bar served as a great dessert because it kept me full later at night and helped energize me to get through morning bar classes. My stomach wasn't rumbling and I felt like I could go longer without eating between dinner and breakfast the next day. But rather than eat it as a protein bar, I tried to get creative.

My first dessert this week was a Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cookie - it is cookie dough after all! I cut the bar into 4 even sized and rolled them into balls to form cookies. I baked them in the oven (350 degrees) for 10 minutes and served with ice cream and frozen bananas! The bar tasted even better baked than it did raw!

The second quest dessert was strawberry cheesecake cereal. I cut the quest bar into small chunks and rolled them into balls. I baked these for 10 minutes in the oven and served with almond milk!

Another quick and easy dinner that we made last week was sesame chicken with stir fry vegetables. The plate was so colorful and vibrant with the mixture of vegatbales and the chicken was coated in a sauce made with 2 tbsp honey, 3/4 tsp rice wine vinegar, 3/4 tsp cornstarch, 1/4 cup water and sesame seeds. For 3 servings (Ryan had double what I ate), it was 6 points! The chicken cooked for 10-15 minutes on high heat and then I added the vegetables for another 2-5 minutes. The sauce I made while the chicken cooked and added to the pot with the chicken and vegetables and mixed well. I added sesame seeds at the end for garnish.

I went to Bar Method Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning and Thursday morning! I took Monday off because I wasn't feeling well and Friday I took off because we were going to Barclay's Center for the Avett Brothers concert and I wouldn't be able to bring my huge backpack with me inside.

Friday morning, I cooked breakfast with Ryan...egg white and oatmeal pancake with chia seeds, topped with chocolate pb2, coconut flakes and hemp seeds (5 points). I love this breakfast because it keeps me full and energized all morning long!

For lunch I had a salad from Just Salad so that I could keep my points low since I knew we would be going out to dinner before the concert! I had kale and spinach chopped with artichoke hearts, broccoli, banana peppers, asparagus and egg whites with a serving of honey-dijon herb dressing. I had 2 cups of Chia Pop Aged Cheddar (2 points). It was so flavorful and filling. I had never had it before, but will have it more often now. It was so delicious and was a perfect side to my salad!

For dinner, I can honestly say I had the best burger ever! We went to Pure Bistro on 5th Avenue only a few blocks from Barclay's. It was exciting to be back in Brooklyn, but we both really did not miss the long commute on the subway! We didn't even realize how long our daily commutes were until we now can walk to work! I got an 8oz. beef burger cooked medium rare with swiss cheese and portobella mushrooms. It was served with a small salad and pickle on the side and I ordered a baked sweet potato on the side. They are known for their gluten free breads and I can tell you that this was the best roll ever, gluten free or not. It didn't fall apart like a tapioca rice bun but was crunchy and hard on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. The burger was so filling and I could only eat half of my baked potato! Ryan got the western BBQ burger with beef cooked medium well, american cheese and bbq sauce! We will definitely be going back to Pure Bistro the next time we are in Brooklyn. I was so full the whole night and I was dreaming about that burger all weekend!! There were also some amazing looking entrees on the menu like a pineapple mango salsa salmon! As delicious as it sounds though, I want, no I need, another burger from there soon! I ate way too quickly and forgot to take a photo (which I'm sure Ryan was happy about since he is always embarrassed when I take pictures of my food), but I found a few online to show the wonders of the burger! They even had a juice bar making fresh juices and smoothies!

After this amazing dinner, we headed to Barclay's Center! The show started at 8pm and featured Old Crow Medicine Show opening for The Avett Brothers! The show was incredible. There was so much energy and happiness and Ryan and I could not stop smiling and singing along. We were dancing and singing and screaming and we loved every minute. The Avett Brothers had an amazing setlist which featured rock songs that transitioned smoothly into their softer ballads and then back again to the faster songs. The buidlup was incredible and we all stood in anticipation for what was next! The music was beautiful too! They had a double bass, drums, cello, banjo and guitars and during instrument switches, the cello played beautiful melodies that I could have listened to all day! The show's encore featured both bands on stage which had 2 fiddles, 2 banjos, 2 double basses, a cello, drums, keyboard...ahh it was so beautiful. I have been listening to Avett Brothers nonstop the rest of the weekend!

Saturday my parents came over in the afternoon to see the progress we have made on the apartment now that the desk and dining room table were built. Ryan hung photos which added such personality and flair to the bare walls and now it feels so homey! We went to Frank's on First for dinner where we went the first night they came over to help us unpack! I had the veal special with mozzarella, roasted red peppers and a putenesca sauce! I was so full and definitely felt this meal the next morning. It was delicious, homemade, salty and savory and after a long night out the night before, this meal was a good way to end the weekend! Sunday was relaxing - the weather was warm and sunny and we hung around the house - listening to the Avett Brothers of course. Fresh Direct delivered in the morning everything we need for the week to make salads, a few dinners (rotisserie chicken, pulled chicken, and maple mustard glazed pork). For dinner we had Maple Mustard glazed pork (which I will be having as a salad for lunch today) with mashed potatoes and asparagus. It felt good to be able to weigh my food, know the ingredients that I am cooking with and know the points! I gave up a lot of control the past 2 weekends and had fun and don't have any regrets, but it felt good to be back on track (at least until Friday when the craziness starts again).

Work has been busy and great, and I am having a positive attitude about everything. I feel good, I am working out, eating right (cheat meals on weekends) and am loving life right now. I had a great Bar Method class with Brittany this morning - my glutes were shaking the full hour - and I plan to go to class Wednesday and Thursday morning and hopefully Spin at Pablo Thursday night - I have to sweat off some of this delicious food I have been eating! Dinners will be Fresh Direct prepared meats (pulled chicken) with fresh vegetables and lunch will be salads with the premade rotisserie chicken! I hope the week goes by fast because I can't wait for this weekend! It makes everything so exciting when we have something to look forward to. We have been so busy though that it will be nice in April to relax a little when it's warmer out and enjoy the city!

XO