Quad Yolks!

2 concepts I want to touch on in this entry...1. Quad yolks! Unreal 2. My pectoral muscles 

No I don't normally eat 4 eggs for breakfast (as someone tried to say....you will remain nameless Hagan). It didn't stop me from eating them all though. Threw in some lump crabmeat and tomato and topped with basil. Sold. 

2.  My pecs are screamin. Put it this way, I couldn't uphold the standard 10 and 2 while driving, it was more like 5 and 7. Those 50 push-ups yesterday is resulting in a mini post...sorry peeps it's all I got. 

Pray DOMS doesn't get worse tomorrow, or it will be an all pic post. 

WODs and whatnot

Day 2 of whole30, day 1 of crossfit. I can barely hold my arms up so this is going to be a shorty boborty. 

For those that follow me on Twitter/Instagram you probably could've guessed a double yolk was coming. It's literally happened 5x in the past month and it literally blows my mind every time. I need to figure out what the universe is trying to tell me. Or, I need to go down to the local farm and punch the farmer who is injecting steroids into the mothers of my eggs. Now that I think about it, I have seen some lady chickens strolling the streets of Hanover with facial hair, shrunken ta-tas and backne. Hmmm. Coincidence?

Top right is my lunch- chicken salad and a salad with mushrooms, tomato and basil. Fresh basil is on point BTW. Wasn't planning on chicken salad but I over grilled the chicken last night. Whoopsies. 

Bottom left is a pit stain from Crossfit. I really liked it, but lets see how I feel when I wake up and can't lift my arms above my head and have to go to work with greasy hair because I can't shampoo. And then I get fired because I don't look professional. And then I have to live on the streets because I can't afford a cardboard box. Haha- anyone get what commercial I'm referencing? Sorry I'm losing it. 

Last but certainly not least pic- dinner. Julia Childs has reentered my life and I am pumped. Crab cakes were delish- picked the crab meat myself, a little Old Bay, salt and pep, and homemade mayo. Nailed it. 

If my arms are functioning tomorrow I'll catch ya then.  

Day 1 in the books

Greetings to the blogosphere! Day 1 down...not too shabby. I suppose it's a lot easier when you know what you're getting yourself into.
Finally got to the store this evening- $80 and a few laps around the store and this is what I came up with:

If you can't see everything, highlights include: sirloin steak, chicken breast, seltzer water, coffee, walnuts, basil, tuna packed in EVOO, etc. It's an empowering feeling slapping all of your groceries on the counter and admiring your handy work. (Hint: stick to the outside of the grocery store, the aisles are what usually get you in trouble)

Backtracking a bit- breakfast was eggs and half an avocado and black coffee. Lunch was tuna and the remaining half of previously mentioned avocado. Had an apple for a snack. Dinner consisted of half of the sirloin steak and asparagus with garlic. See below: 

I am currently satisfied and content....minus the fan that sounds like an epileptic hyena that is in the bedroom. The spelling of hyena doesn't look right does it? Took me a few minutes to come to terms with that spelling. Anyways, the point is this fan looks like its about to spin off its axis and slice my head off in the middle of the night. Better unplug it. That would be a short lived blog and a really crappy way to go. Although, helluva scary movie death. 

Sweet dreams!

I'm baaaack

Well good evening y'all! I know it's been a while since I've signed into the ole blog..but figured it was only fitting since I'm starting a round 2 Whole 30. For those of you that could care less...why did you click the link? For those on board thank you for your support. Please feel free to join me. I have a few pals joining me in this go round. To protect the names of the innocent I will refer to them in nickname only: Gravy, EZ and Landlord. Landlord is half hopping on the bus because he will be traveling a lot for work the next 30 days. I must say I appreciate the effort. Gravy and EZ I'm pumped to have friends on this journey!
So Whole30 part deux commences tomorrow. I wanted to go through again because my body needs it. I've definitely made better food choices since my last stint...but I think I need a reminder of how I feel eating real food. I was rereading some posts from last year and got pretty excited. It was like finding an old diary and reliving all of your middle school crushes.
Some things that I have maintained: black coffee, no soda (unless I'm ridiculously hungover), limited gum, eggs for breakfast, homemade mayo, almond butter, no pasta, that's all I got for now. Because I've kept up with the paleo mindset, it is easy for me to start tomorrow despite getting a chance to go to the grocery store tonight.
Things will be a bit harder since I'm in a new locale. My commute to work is about an hour, so I need to be super prepared with meals on the go. Throw in a few 6am practices and the challenge gets a little harder. No worries though...I couldn't be more excited about getting after another whole30 in a new state, with a new gig. Stay tuned.....

Encore

I was advised to make a Top 10 list about the Whole30.  Instead of the 'best' things, I'm listing the biggest takeaways from completing the Whole30 successfully.  So here they are in no particular order:

Top 10:

1. It is not hard.  (battling cancer is hard, fighting in a war is hard)

2. I never thought I could get better sleep.  I had what I thought were good sleeping habits before...it's nothing like how I'm sleeping now.

3.  My workouts are much more efficient.  I don't lose energy and my heart rate isn't as high when I'm exercising (and it's not because I'm not working as hard)

4.  I don't need bread or cheese or beer. 

5.  Everyone is gluten intolerant.  (cut it out of your diet and see what happens to your gut...mine is much less poochy for lack of a better term)

6.  There is enough time in your day and in your weeks to eat like this, as long as you make it a priority.  Trust me it's worth it. 

7. It's really not that much more expensive to eat real, whole food.  (I bet you will spend less on dr's visits, antacids, etc.)

8.  It is empowering to be in control of how your body looks and feels!

9.  Pumpkin shakes may seem and look like a good idea, but they taste like baby food. (Gerber if you're reading, call me)

10. Feeling good is in your control.  Everything you put into your body is either healthy or unhealthy.  There is no in between. 

For those who are wondering....no I did not have a Bloody Mary with breakfast.  I ate completely paleo today, including the Pumpkin Shake I mentioned....it's not good. 

But speaking of pumpkin, I did make a purchase today for when I am ready....Dogfish Punkin :) 

Finale!

Well folks, we've made it.  When I wake up tomorrow, as long as I don't sleep walk down to the local 7-11 and sleep eat taquitos, I will have successfully completed the Whole3o challenge.  30 days of no grains, legumes, alcohol, dairy, soy, etc.  30 days of real, natural delicious food.  The last meals: 

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with spinach, steak. Lunch: Tuna wraps with tomato/avocado. Dinner: Spaghetti and tomato/avocado.  (I know, tomato and avocado were on a brief hiatus). Snack: apples and almond butter. 

I've had a bunch of people ask me what I'm going to eat tomorrow.  Probably the same good food I've been eating the last 30 days.  I think it'd be a bit hypocritical to reward myself for completing this challenge with food/drink. I'd rather reward myself with something materialistic.  Today, I bought a trash can online.  No, I will not allow that to be my reward. It just so happened I needed a trash can and I bought it today.  I'll probably cash in this weekend when I go shopping. 

So, I will continue to eat the paleo way until I really want something nonpaleo.  I'm not sure when it will happen, but I want it to be worth it. I embarked on this challenge to change my relationship with food, for the short term- success.  I think the hardest part for me will be the time after the whole30.  I've done well because there are guidelines and rules to follow-- it was easy to control.  Now, it's up to me to make better decisions on my own. I'm sure there will be hard days and easy days, and I'm sure the easy days will become more frequent as time goes on. I hope anyways.  

In closing, thanks for all the support and encouragement along the way.  As much as I became consumed and obsessed with the Whole30, I did with blogging as well.  I really had fun writing about my journey.  And although I did feel extreme pressure to post daily and make people laugh, I did enjoy the process and think it was helpful.  It was like I had an audience to report to and I didn't want to disappoint. I know some people have requested that I continue with the blog....and I will try to blog about life after the whole30, but it may be less frequent and not as comical. 

And those asking for after pictures, please message me privately.  


KIDDING!

29 of 30

I just typed out that title and I cannot believe tomorrow is my last full day of the Whole30 challenge.  This journey has certainly gone faster than I imagined it to go- it has given me perspective, motivation and control.  I don't have urges to put 'bad stuff' into my body.  Well, for the most part. 

A lot of people have asked 'what are you going to do when it's over?'  I honestly think I will continue on this path of eating paleo until I really want something nonpaleo. I feel good.  It's hard to describe elaborately. I have no desire to eat bread or cheese.  (I also haven't been face to face with a pizza in 29 days). I've been sleeping like a baby. I have energy and rarely experience the usual afternoon sluggishness.  You know that 2:00 feeling the 5 hour energy commercials always tell you about. I want to workout.  My mouth actually watered for spinach yesterday. I desire good food.  I've enjoyed channeling my inner Jules Childs. I am proud of what I've accomplished. 

One of my biggest challenges has been the social aspect for sure.  I've cut down on my social engagements to limit temptations, etc. My nonpaleo, social butterfly self would definitely call my whole30, seltzer drinking self LAME. I've had some conflicting thoughts on that matter, the whole30 is almost social suicide. No, it's not that bad. I just wanted to use the phrase social suicide since it's in Mean Girls. I've obviously chosen to limit my sociality (can't believe that's a word)- so I need to be better about going out and being ok with not drinking. 

Although I'm not sure what I was so concerned with, I never once worried that I would fall off the wagon. My only worry involving wagons concerns the Mennonites and their road apples. 

I am looking forward to having the option to enjoy a beverage if I want it.  I'm not saying tomorrow at 12:01am I'm going to crack a beer....that would be ludicrous.  I'll just have a Bloody Mary with my breakfast Wednesday before I go into work.  Kidding people. 

The process of reintroducing foods is a little intimidating.  The top 3 items I'd like to reintroduce are aforementioned adult beverages, sugar free creamer and gum.  I feel like that's a really weird combination, but that's honestly what I think. Anyways, enough reflection for this evening.  I'm not even finished the challenge yet.  

Hung out with my main man Shaun T this morning.  Loathing walking push ups. And the rug in my living room is cheap so I get rug burns on my palms. Sometimes my frugality gets the best of me.

Anyways, breakfast was: steak and an egg, with my sweet potato/nan concoction.  I've had a lot of interest for that recipe, so here it is: 

Microwave a sweet potato in a wet paper towel for 4-5 minutes (until fork tender).  Cut up a small banana (the riper the better).  I usually use a 1/2 of the sweet potato at most.  Mash together the nan and potato, add about 1/4 cup of coconut milk and 2 tsp of cinnamon.  Reheat once everything is incorporated and top with walnuts.  Devour. 

Lunch was my leftover 'surf' from dinner last night, atop a salad with tomatoes and EVOO.  It was as scrumptious as it looks.  Post lunch nibble of raspberries and walnuts.

The weather today was pretty miz. Soup was calling my name for dinner.  Needed a little protein with it, so had a little bit of spaghetti squash and meat sauce. I couldn't even finish the soup. I've noticed I become fuller quickly, I guess when I'm meant to be finished. 

Also, if you're interested in what I'm doing right now, it's not watching the O's play the Yankees.  Of course not. I'm hanging out in the front of a classroom with a room full of underachieving student athletes. I, in my baby earphones listening to Mumford and Sons sipping seltzer water; them in their oversized headphones jammin to Chris Brown and texting under their desks. 

Sweet life.