I cannot even explain how good it felt to be at Bar Method today. I was smiling, happy, giddy and excited for class. And Amanda's class was a lot of fun (yes, fun at 6:30am does exist). Even during arabesque, when my standing leg was shaking and my glutes were burning and my eyes wanted to drop to the floor, I just kept thinking positive thoughts and pushed through (I can't tell you what these thoughts were because they were interspersed with a lot of cursing and internal crying of pain). It's only 3 minutes, right? I had such a great class, and walked out of the studio still smiling - I hope this is a permanent feeling because it really is amazing. I had my Rx Bar in the locker room while I got dressed - AMAZING, DELICIOUS - so satisfying. And while I was eating and getting ready a few girls started asking me about the product and about Whole30. When I told them it was a sugar, grain, gluten, dairy free program and lifestyle, they were shocked. A few said they couldn't live without cheese, and others said "well, I don't eat sugar anyway." Then we went on FreshDirect and looked at those 4 minute meals they eat and low and behold, the first few ingredients (besides grains and rice and wheat) were "sugar and rice malt" which Whole30 has deemed, sneaky sugars. They couldn't believe it, how could sugar be in their "real" food. Well if it has a barcode, it's most likely not real food. It was fun to talk about the program and reinforce my belief that Whole30 is changing my life, mentally and physically. I help helping my body and educating my mind.
The RxBar was the perfect post workout meal. It was sweet (from the dates and coconut and almonds) and had a great crunch and texture. I'm sure 4 days ago I would have said it was a bit bland and not "chocolatey" enough, but 4 days without sugar and it was really sweet to me! It kept me full for 2 hours after Bar Method when I made it to work and had an omelette with scallions, peppers, tomatoes, and spinach. I went to the omelette station and picked all of the vegetables they had and none of the meats or dairy. And no to homefries and toast - everyone in line looked at me like I was crazy, but the omelette was delicious. Meal #2 is soup and salad (and a mini larabar if I need it to hold me off until after the colonic. Since I have to stop eating at 2pm and I won't be home until 7:30pm, I just don't want to get a headache or dizzy from having such a wide gap in between meals).
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| Whole30 Approved stamped right on the packaging! Love it! |
The Day 4 Whole30 Daily email was great to read this morning. It discusses cravings and how to differentiate between hunger and cravings. Basically, if steamed fish sounds good to you, you are really hungry and if not, step away from the chocolate! Walk away, fast, in fact, run!
I definitely battle with the "sugar dragon." I am a victim of what whole30 defines as HALT (eating when I am Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). Especially at work between the hours of 2pm and 5pm. I may have just finished a large lunch, but then work slows, emails stop coming in, Facebook isn't distracting me, and I reach in my drawer for an apple, or even worse, a quest bar, chocolate kisses, or anything sweet. But really, I am not hungry. I read the book "The Power of Habits" which is mentioned in today's email - 3pm is my cue, reaching in my drawer for food is the routine, and the reward of pleasure and happiness comes with each bite of sugary goodness...but then the reward disappears and I feel guilty, angry, and disappointed in myself. The reward is never as good as it seems 5 minutes later. So I need to create better habits at 3pm when the sugar dragon shows up - talk a walk, drink water, have herbal tea...create new habits for the same cue (3pm). And sometimes I convince myself that a fruit is better than the chocolate, but our brains do not differentiate between fruit sugar and chocolate sugar, it's all the same, so giving in to the sugar dragon with fruit is just as bad. It has been 4 days and I have not had a piece of fruit. I know fruit is nutritious and beneficial, but my sugar addiction is so real that I know that if I have fruit, I will have a much harder time resisting other types of sugar. I am keeping it clean!
Tonight is my colonic and I am excited to continue cleaning out my body of toxins. I have been eating clean for 4 days and feel healthier, lighter, and more regular. The colonic will only help with the benefits of Whole30. I will be getting home late for dinner which is what makes me nervous. Normally, I would microwave something quick and easy, but Whole30 does not allow that. Luckily, I have a lot of soup at home, eggs and a lot of greens. Tonight might be a boring Meal #3 just to feed my body quickly and remain healthy and on program.
Tomorrow morning I am not doing Bar Method because my body will be healing from the colonic. I plan to make N'Oatmeal for breakfast and relax and even walk to the office since the weather is warming up. I have planned a week of meals for Week #2 and lunches will be leftovers - I don't want to get bored or redundant with salads so I am finding new ways to use leftovers rather than just microwaving them in their original form. Short ribs can become taco salads, almond chicken will make a great salad, etc. I know I am only on day 4, but this positive attitude will hopefully remain for the next 26 days! And sharing everything here is really helping! I am so used to tracking my food with Weight Watchers that writing it all here is helping me remain accountable and make sure that I eat enough to be full until the next meal, but not overeating.
Tomorrow is my last night with Ryan still traveling and I think I want to treat myself to sushi. That means, SASHIMI (no rice), no soy sauce and no spicy mayo or tempura. I love sushi and am craving it so I am going to get a whole lot of salmon, tuna and yellowtail to fill me up. It will be worth the splurge and since Ryan hates sushi, this is my chance!
Have a great day!
XO
Update: I think I am going to make salmon cakes for dinner tonight. I know it will be late when I get home, but they will be great to have for dinner, lunch tomorrow and breakfast on Saturday with a fried egg! I have canned salmon from Trader Joe's (only ingredient is pink atlantic salmon), and will use an egg, almond flour to hold them together and some onions and lemon and salt and pepper. I will fry them up in coconut oil! Since dinner will be later, I will probably have 2 patties on a bed of kale (with soup if I am that hungry). Tomorrow for lunch I will make my usual vegetable salad and breakfast Saturday will be a salmon patty with fried egg! Yummmmm.
