Whole30 Days 1-10 Recap: Program Friendly Meal Ideas

So I am 1/3 of the way through – done with my Whole30 Days 1-10.

In case you missed the beginning – after some thinking I decided to try this program with my buddy over in the Netherlands – Yuliya.

Ok, now that you have all the links, go ahead and read – I’ll wait 🙂

Welcome back!

So. 10 days later I decided I’d recap the highlights of the first 10 days of the program, let you guys know how it feels and what it takes.

Whole30 Days 1-10

{DAY 1}  Was not much different than my usual – hardboiled eggs and turkey-ginger patties for breakfast, salad for lunch, baked salmon and chopped salad for dinner. I had to remind myself about the program restrictions throughout the day, but it was more like flashes in my head – “Oh, I have to remember that I can’t eat dairy” – rather than cravings. I’m glad I did my prep work on Sunday – it definitely made sticking to the plan a lot easier during the week.

Felt a little paranoid about not counting calories. Had to stop myself from thinking about my food in “measuring cups”.

I’m so messed up! *facepalm*

{DAY 2}  Things felt a little different on Day 2 – I guess it started to settle in that I won’t be able to have Ice cream That Whose Name We Don’t Pronounce for dessert for the next 28 days 🙂

But I was really jazzed about not having crap in my food – so I made meat balls and tomato sauce totally from scratch and served it on spaghetti squash for dinner that night.

{DAY 3}  I was hungry all day (no matter what/how much I ate) and felt kind of  “veggied out”. I felt like I needed more protein in my diet. So I had more protein. Felt good.

The scale in the bathroom started calling my name in the morning, but I told it to shut up. 🙂

Made a rocking dinner in my wok in 20 minutes – curried chicken with veggies (clicky-click for the recipe).

{DAY 4}  The voice of the scale in the bathroom is getting louder. Still ignoring it 🙂

Noticed at breakfast that food tastes different – more flavorful!

Feeling a little bloated from all the veggies I eat. God bless steaks!

{DAY 5}

Feeling good. Loving Bok Choy – even for breakfast 🙂 Bloating – gone!

{DAY 6}

We went to the art fair… Now that was a BIG mistake. I was hungry for lunch (BIG mistake #2 – leaving the house without having lunch), so choosing something to eat at the fair was quite a challenge.

Besides, they always have a HUGE desserts isle with pieces of cakes bigger than my head. And I’ve had them before. And I know how delicious they are.

Naturally I was dreaming about cake that night 🙂 But I settled for plain beef brisket for lunch at the fair, while my husband utilized what came with my brisket in his own twisted way. We’re so messed up! *facepalm*

Sorry – a little out of focus, my hands were shaking 🙂

Not that I’m a big fan of fries, just the fact that I can’t have them made me want them. I think so far Day 6 was the only day of the program when I felt deprived and limited in food choices.

I got home to my Whole30 book in the mail – It Starts With Food. Getting the book on that day really helped with those cravings for cake – I started reading and it all fell into place and made sense. And made things easier. And motivated me to keep going.

And…I had a bad headache that afternoon – so far the only time I did – though most of the Whole30 people complain about headaches.

{DAY 7}  was a Sunday – food prep day.

I made another batch of by breakfast sausage patties and some other things for dinners for the following week.

Dinner was simple – shrimp and veggie skewers on the grill.

{DAY 8}  Better sleep quality. Like, noticeably better. Usually I wake up at least once a night. Not that night – I slept like a baby.

{DAY 9}  Feeling great! Rocked the lunch salad to take to work with me:

{DAY 10} Still feeling great!

I noticed my afternoon sleepiness is starting to go away – either because I sleep better at night, or for some other reason (s). Loving it!

So, my friends, those were my first 10 days out of 30 with the Whole30 program.

I can’t say they were hard, but there were a few challenges:

• Eating meals (mostly sides though) that are different than what’s the rest of your family is eating.
• Eating out – variety and the unknown ingredient list can make this part challenging. We generally don’t eat out a lot, but when we do – I have yet to figure out how to handle it.
• Having my coffee black sucked in the beginning but it’s kinda growing on me now.
• Reading labels: that’s a big one. When for the most part of your life you didn’t do that, it’s hard to start. It’s hard to remember you need to read labels. Because sugar is e-ve-ry-where… (insert zombie face here) 🙂 No, seriously, you’d be surprised – sugar is the only reason I don’t buy bacon even though it is program friendly. They add sugar to BACON! I know, right?

And that’s that! I look forward to another 2×10 days of my very first Whole30!

Stay tuned, my lovelies – I’ll keep you posted on my adventures – in another 10 days  🙂