My Whole30 Experience

It's been pretty quiet around here for the past month, and of course there's a reason for that. I've just finished the last day of my first ever Whole30. I'll let you read as much as you want about it here, and if you're interested in learning even more, I highly recommend this book. The basic philosophy is a 30 day challenge or reset to change your approach to eating. The following sums up what my last 30 days have looked like:

It's definitely been a challenge, but it's also been one of the smartest things I've ever done. I first heard about the Whole30 from reading Carrie and Danielle's blogs, and decided to give it a try. I won't wax on about how much it changed my outlook, but I do think it really highlighted certain aspects of food and eating for me. First of all, do you know how many products contain sugar?! It's staggering and shows up in some unexpected places. By far, the hardest thing for me to adjust to was drinking my morning cup of coffee without the addition of raw sugar. After about a week, though, it was fine and I didn't even think about sugar or grains. I've come to enjoy a splash of canned coconut milk and appreciate coffee for its own flavors. Here is my little bulleted breakdown:

• The key theme for me during my Whole30: preparation. I planned out meals for the week every Saturday and then went shopping for the entire week. It pays off in the long run. This isn't a plan where you can just grab something on the go when you're in a jam. It takes some thought.
• Shop local and seasonal. I tried all sorts of new vegetables and recipes using foods from my farmers' market. I cooked a lot and used up leftovers.
• Find a couple of staple snacks that you can rely on in a pinch. I'm on the road for most of the day for my job, so I don't always get to sit down and enjoy my lunch. I did my best, but it just isn't feasible for me every day. I packed lunches and would snack on some cashews or almonds, or if I was really in a bind, a Larabar (a flavor without added sugar).
• Eat breakfast daily. Do not skip this step.
• Don't be afraid to try new things. Cook from scratch so you can control the ingredients. I made roasted tomato soup from whole tomatoes several times. I tried roasted brussel sprouts (!!!) and liked them. I was really creative and even though my boyfriend didn't do the Whole30 with me, he was happy with all of the new menu items!
• Enjoy the money you'll save by not eating/drinking out for a month! Seriously, though, there are tons of physical benefits (better sleep, clearer skin, more energy), but it was nice to lay low for the month and not worry about going out.
• Don't worry about what every one else thinks. I gave up on trying to explain what I was doing to people because they looked at me like I had seven heads. Do it for you and your own well being.

I'm not going to lie, I'm really looking forward to going out for a sushi dinner and glass of wine on Thursday night (something I used to enjoy weekly), but this 30 day challenge was eye-opening. I don't think I'll ever go back to unnecessarily adding sugar to coffee or other foods and I really don't need cow's milk. I'm perfectly happy with the almond or coconut varieties. I plan on continuing to shop local and buy the highest quality poultry, meat, and seafood that my budget will allow. I'm enjoying the benefits of the challenge, such as the sound sleep, slimmer silhouette, and lack of intestinal turmoil (the past 30 days dairy-free confirmed the fact that I most likely have a dairy allergy). I really encourage everyone to try this, even if it's just for a few weeks. I promise that you will feel better and see results. In the mean time, I'm definitely looking forward to indulging in a couple pieces of Halloween candy tomorrow!

And now back to my regular blogging!

What's new with you?

  

Back to Basics

Today is the third and final day of my very first BluePrint Cleanse. I'm happy to say that I survived without cheating, which means I've put only fresh-pressed juice into my body in the form of six juices (or cashew milk) for the past 72 hours. The first day was the most difficult, but I prepared by abstaining from caffeine for a few days prior to starting. It took a little while to get used to not actually chewing anything for three days (probably the hardest part). By the third day (today), I was actually looking forward to the green juices. Plus, the cashew milk with cinnamon tastes just like rice pudding (not bad!). I am so happy (and proud of myself) for completing this cleanse, and I definitely recommend BluePrint for beginners!

I initially heard of them through several blogs that I follow (here and here), and when the Daily Candy deal came up a few weeks back, I had to do it. It's really made me feel energized and much more aware of what I put into my body. I was also shocked that I wasn't hungry. At all. I know, I was surprised, too. Sure, when M was eating hummus and pita chips the other night, I could have gone for some, but at the same time I didn't feel deprived either. If you're at a plateau in your nutrition/fitness routine, I recommend checking out their products. I can see myself doing this again in the future.

What do you think? Would you do a juice cleanse?

Take Your Vitamins

I realized today that I haven't been sick at all this school year! It's a miracle, really, especially given all the sick, sneezing, and runny-nosed kids I come in contact with on a daily basis. I've had a few sniffles, but nothing major like strep throat, ear infections, or the dreaded stomach bug. I definitely attribute my strengthened immune system to regular exercise and a few daily vitamins and supplements (a general multivitamin, magnesium, and vitamin C). That, combined with tons of fruits and veggies and constant hand sanitizing, have really paid off this year (knock on wood!). Of course, now that I've officially pointed this out, I'll probably come down with something crazy by the end of this week (hopefully not).

How do you stay healthy?

Rainy Day Blues

This black cherry yogurt was the sunshine in an otherwise grey and dreary day. It was so worth it. Good thing I remembered to shred today!

Switching It Up

On Sunday night, I made the impulsive decision to join a group of bloggers who are calling themselves the "shred crew" and motivating one another to complete Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred workout every day for, you guessed it, a month. I snatched up the DVD on Amazon before I could give myself time to change my mind (and for the super cheap sale price of $7.99)!

Well, it finally arrived this afternoon and I'm about to do day 1 of the level 1 workout. I've never watched the Biggest Loser and I don't know much about Jillian's style, but the reviews were all fantastic. People are really seeing results with this routine, which is very encouraging. While I don't think I'll be one of those people who drops 20 pounds in 30 days (let's be realistic here), I'm all about switching my workouts up as much as possible to keep my body guessing and working extra hard. For a complete list of bloggers involved in the challenge or if you're interested in jumping on board, click here. Wish me luck!

Drink Naked

I slurped down some of this coconut water today in an effort to get more potassium and alleviate some leg cramping I've been experiencing (thank you, pilates). Because we all know I'm not getting my potassium from bananas. In other news, it's currently snowing outside. And if that's not bad enough, my sister is laying on a beach in Cabo somewhere sipping a tropical umbrella drink.
How rude.

Glass Globules

Today I noticed a new addition to the loft space where I go for pilates. This huge hanging sculpture was suspended in the corridor outside one of the art studios. It was massive and must have weighed a ton. It reminded me of a huge bunch of grapes or some weird coral reef formation! Wouldn't it be cool if you turned each orb into a fishbowl and had goldfish swimming around in them? That's what I would have done.

Shopping Flop

My shopping trip yesterday was fun, but totally unproductive. I went to lots of stores, but only left with this hot class bra from lululemon. I fell in love with the flashback pullover (which looked much cuter in person) but they didn't have it in my size. I feel like this is happening more and more at lululemon. To top it off, it's sold out online too. I'm going to check out a few of the stores when I'm home later this week. I'm looking forward to my long getaway weekend and hopefully some warmer weather!

At least Monday is finally over!

Crickets

That's about the only sound I heard at the gym 6:58 am. It was almost relaxing.

My Happy Place {Lately}

I've been getting incredible, noticeable results in just a few pilates classes! I think it's my new favorite workout. And to think it all started by purchasing a Groupon.

More proof that it pays to take a step outside your comfort zone.

Contemplating Classes

I've been perusing my gym's group class offerings to try and switch up my routine a little. Is it just me, or are all of the fun/productive classes offered during the week while I'm at work? I think I'm going to try zumba toning tomorrow morning. Seems like a fun way to kick off my Sunday!

Do you have a favorite group class?

Confession

Sometimes, a cute coordinating outfit is all it takes to get me to the gym.
Shallow? Maybe. Productive? Indeed!

lululemon faded zap jacket
Nike free trainers

Calling All Princesses

My friend Karen informed me that there exists a magical athletic event specifically for princesses. Yes, that's right, Disney (who else?!) hosts an annual Princess Half Marathon and Fit for a Princess expo. I seriously can't believe I've only come across this event today. Is it sad that it takes a princess theme to get me thinking about training for a half marathon? Don't answer that. Anyway, since I've been on such a health kick lately, I'm seriously considering signing up for this event, which is taking place next February. That means I have at least 8 months to get myself in gear and train for said race.

Imagine being cheered on by all of the Disney characters and running through the Magic Kingdom! Sounds like fun to me! The best part of the whole thing is planning what to wear for the actual race. Check out the photo gallery from the previous race to get some inspiration. I doubt this is the place for the Ariel costume I never had. Maybe Snow White would be a safer bet!

Let's dust off those glass running shoes and get busy!