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

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.

whole30 days 1-10

{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).

whole30 days 1-10

{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!

whole30 days 1-10

{DAY 5}

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

whole30 days 1-10

{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*

whole30 days 1-10

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.

whole30 days 1-10

{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.

whole30 days 1-10

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

whole30 days 1-10

Lettuce, celery, tomatoes, avocado, leftover crockpot chicken and pepitas

{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  🙂

Lena

Comments

  1. Looks like you are getting a handle on your challenges and doing a pretty good job. I stopped weighing myself about a year ago and I am so happy :). Not for everyone of course just thought I would mention it
    Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Do you Metronome? Should you?My Profile

    • Thanks, Deborah!
      I like weighing myself to see the progress every now and then 🙂 It is one of the rules of the program that you can’t do that for 30 days. I feel that I’ve lost weight by the way my clothes fit, and that makes it harder to resist the temptation of weighing myself – just out of curiosity 🙂
      Generally I don’t obsess about the number on the scale.

  2. You’re doing such a great job! I love how detailed this post was and how you shared so much! I definitely struggle(d) with the coffee thing. Sometimes I add almond milk to it, but it’s definitely not the same as when I had my creamer addiction, which majorly kicks in when I’m visiting the US – there are so many choices and flavors 😉

    When I’m doing things like this or just generally trying to stick to healthy meals, I very rarely eat out. There are a few options near us, but like you say, it’s really hard to really know.

    I also struggle to eat different meals than what everyone else does. That’s why I’ve been just generally failing at eating healthy while we’re here. Otherwise I always just cook paleo main meals for my husband and son and I, and then will make a side of pasta or rice or beans that they can add to their plates. It’s hard to resist sometimes and on ‘those days’ I may make a substitute like cauliflower rice or will purely make a paleo dish without an alternative. Luckily, my husband isn’t picky about dinner and doesn’t care if it’s paleo or not, as long as he gets something relatively tasty 🙂

    Great job! I’m sending virtual high fives and perhaps a paleo cookie or two 😉
    Yuliya recently posted…Nuts & Bolts Tot SchoolMy Profile

  3. You make it seem SO easy! I might have to give this a try! I’ve read tons of about it, but never took the plunge
    Erin@LivingMadeHealthy recently posted…Thinking Out Loud {2}My Profile

    • Erin, it really isn’t that hard if you generally eat healthy. I don’t miss grains, dairy or legumes, or sugar. And I feel great! I highly recommend this program. The changes to your body are just unbelievable.

  4. Lena smack that scale and tell it to stay out of your life. LOLOL! Seriously you are rocking this challenge. I can’t wait to see your end results and read your final post on it.
    Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…What’s In The September 2014 POPSUGAR Must Have BoxMy Profile

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