Back on the Horse!

Here I am again.

After a couple of weeks completely “off”, I’m definitely in need of some more time Whole30 compliant. My skin has broken out, feeling a little frumpy and I want that good feeling back.

Will keep it short tonight, but I’m just gonna say that I’m feeling quite disappointed in myself right now. It feels like all the progress I made last month were ruined by some silly choices. But at the same time, I’m hopeful that I can jump back on the bandwagon without too many setbacks, and am thinking that it’ll be easier this time with my last Whole30 still fresh in my mind.

I also think that by keeping a daily food diary again, it’ll keep me more accountable.

Breakfast: After last night, I literally could not stomach anything this morning. Instead, I decided to go for an earlier walk to see if that’d help alleviate a bit of the grogginess.

Lunch (2:30pm): Still wasn’t really hungry, but figured I’d need to eat something. Made myself a tuna, avocado, tomato and spring onion salad. Cup of tea.

Dinner: (8:30pm): Steak and cumin cabbage and onion stir-fry. Some leftover salad from lunch.

Food (7/9-24/9)

Hi there!

Long time no speak.. Although I had the very best of intentions to update earlier on, well, things kinda got out of control hand over the last few weeks..

Anyway, after a couple of weeks of being back in “the real world” after my very first Whole30, I’m back.

Since completing my Reintroduction, I’ve continued to keep tabs on what I’ve been chowing down on. My plan was to stay on track with eating as clean as possible, and I think I did well for the first couple of days… But the last 10 days, culminating with an EPIC Italian gorge fest bonanza last night, has seen me fall completely and utterly off the tracks.

Sadly, I can’t say I’m as bright-eyed, clear skinned, and less bloated as I was on the 30th of August… but I’m willing to give this clean eating thing another shot.

Will be back later today to update on the 1st day of my 2nd Whole(not-sure-yet) program! 🙂

But for those interested, listed below is my food diary for the last few weeks..

7/9

Breakfast: Avocado, tomato, garlic, spring onion frittata.

Lunch: Minced beef, tomato, capsicum, broccoli, onion, garlic and cumin stir-fry. Beef bone broth.

Dinner: Pork ribs.

8/9

Breakfast: Pork Ribs with a tomato, avocado and garlic omelette. One orange.

Lunch: Steak. Paprika sweet potato chips. Cumin zucchini, capsicum, onion and garlic stir-fry. One orange.

Dinner: BBQ. Meat, bottle of wine, some pringles… Pork Rib when I got home.

9/9

Breakfast: Minced beef with tomato. Scrambled eggs.

Lunch: Tomato and scrambled eggs.

Snack: Way too many cashews.

10/9

Breakfast: Tomato, avocado, onion and garlic omelette. Bone broth. Mandarin.

Snack: Banana and camomile tea.

Lunch: Pork chops.

Dinner: Way too many cashews (again).

11/9

Breakfast: Steak, eggs, sauerkraut and mustard.

Lunch: Sweet potato chips, banana and mandarin.

Dinner: Baked chicken and cashews.

12/9

Breakfast: Zucchini pasta with meat sauce and scrambled eggs.

Snack/Lunch: Salami, pork crackling, 2 figs.

Dinner: Leftover meat sauce with scrambled eggs. 1 more fig.

13/9

Breakfast: Meat sauce, spinach, tomato and avocado stir-fry.

Late Lunch: Roast chicken with roasted sweet potato, carrot, onion and garlic.

Dinner: Just tea as not hungry at all.

Late night snack: Some leftover roast chicken.

14/9

Breakfast: Leftover chicken, sweet potato, carrot and garlic.

Snack: Chicken.

Lunch: 2 figs. Some salami and guacamole.

Dinner: Chicken, avocado, tomato and capsicum salad. Some leek, carrot and guacamole.

Snack: Pork crackle.

15/9

Breakfast/Lunch: Spinach, tomato, avocado, garlic and basil omelette.

Dinner: Sushi and beer. (Rice and cream cheese was included).

16/9

Breakfast/Lunch: Minced beef, broccoli, tomato, onion and garlic stir-fry. Leftover carrot and leek from chicken. 2 figs.

Snack/Dinner: Beer, wine, steak and cheese crepe, polenta fries with parmesan, onion rings with mayo. So naughty, but it was worth it!

17/9

Breakfast: Banana

Lunch: Oxtails with tomato, leek, carrot, onion and garlic puree.

Snack: Chicken broth and fig.

Dinner: Spinach, tomato, avocado and onion omelette.

18/9

Breakfast: Tomato, avocado, onion, garlic and basil omelette.

Snack: Pork rinds.

Dinner: Pork belly, onion and garlic, tomato and cucumber.

19/9

Breakfast: Minced beef, broccoli, tomato, red capsicum and garlic stir-fry.

Snack: Left over pork belly.

Dinner: BBQ meat, some veggies.

Snack: Two small glasses red wine, 4 tabs of 85% cocoa chocolate.

20/9

Breakfast: Avocado, cherry tomato and basil omelette.

No Lunch.

Dinner: Churrascaria. Lots of meat, palmito, sun-dried tomato, garlic, oyster, salsa, pesto. Desserts.

Snack: Mojito, caipirinha, bacardi lemon, 2 strawberry daquiries.

21/9

Breakfast: Spinach, tomato, onion, garlic, spring onion and basil omelette.

Lunch: Custard apple.

Dinner: Roasted pumpkin, eggplant and chilli stack with tomato, avocado and shallots.

Snack: Glass of red wine. 4 tabs of 85% cocoa chocolate.

22/9

Breakfast: Prawns fried in oil with garlic. Avocado, tomato, cucumber and spring onions with soy sauce.

Lunch: Leftover chilli, pumpkin and eggplant. Sauteed spinach and garlic with scrambled eggs. Papaya.

Dinner: 2 Steaks, white wine.

Snack: Beer, squid rings with mayo, steak.

23/9

Breakfast: Papaya.

Lunch: Spinach, capsicum, tomato, onion, garlic, tuna and egg scramble.

Snack: Banana, salmon, sausage and pork rind.

Dinner: Bacon and eggs. Cumin cabbage and onion stir-fry.

24/9

Breakfast/Lunch: Salmon. Spinach, capsicum, tomato, onion, garlic, avocado and spring onion omelette.

Dinner: (Completely fell off the tracks! Oh dear.) Red wine, tomato and buffalo mozzarella bruschetta, provoletta cheese, bread with olive and onion tapenades for entrée. Filet mignon in mushroom cream sauce pasta for main. Shared tiramisu, petit gateaux and ice cream for dessert.

Post Legumes Reintroduction.

Slept ’til 11am again today. Oops, but yay!

No skin breakouts to speak of today. Woke up with a little bit of a tummy ache, but nothing crazy.

I do, however, have the sniffles BAD. I noticed that I have had what feels like a slight cold over the last few days. It feels like my body’s been fighting hard to keep it at bay, but today it’s caved in and I have a runny nose. Bleh. Maybe the reintroduction of the milk, cheese, rice and soy sauce over the past week have some part in it, or it could simply be coincidence.

But anyway. As of today I’ve finished my Whole30 and Reintroductions. Which means I’m back on my own. Not as worried about the prospect as I would’ve been at the beginning of my experience, that’s for sure. In fact, at this point it’s just getting easier I feel, and am confident I can continue to eat this way for the most part. I won’t be eating dairy or gluten-grains at all if I can help it, but I don’t think rice and soy sauce will be completely out. And I’m not going to feel bad about having those things every once in a while.

As for sugar, the cravings are getting less (although I do still get them at times).. but I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of testing those waters yet. There’s a part of me that is afraid that if I do so too soon, that old habits will return, with a vengeance. So for now, gonna keep on the sugar-free bandwagon.

So right now, at the end of my first-ever Whole30 experiment, I can say that it definitely been an eye opener. There has been ups and downs, and I’m left with a cold at the end of it, but I’m glad to have done it- mostly for the awareness that it’s given me about the effects of food. Prior to doing this, I was SO ignorant about these effects and would happily shove anything I could get my hands on down my throat, without thinking about the consequences at all. I still LOVE to eat, and I am mourning the loss of certain foods that this newfound knowledge has brought, but at the same time, I am excited to be aware of these things as well. I can’t say that I’ll NEVER eat some of these less healthy foods again, but I’m going to try my hardest to remember to think about my health first before contemplating eating those things.

For anyone who’s thinking about doing a Whole30, I say DO IT. You may find it difficult (most do to an extent), it may be a breeze, but if nothing else, it’ll bring awareness. And that’s the most important thing.

For those interested, I’m gonna keep posting and like I’ve said in a previous post, will continue getting my hands dirty in the kitchen and even try to come up with some dishes of my own! Won’t be updating every day as I had been, but will try to make it a weekly thing. This blog has been great for me to stay on track, and I sincerely hope I can keep going.

So until next time, tchau!

Food (4/9-6/9)

What I’ve been chowing down on over the last few days.

4/9

Breakfast: Steak with mustard, wilted spinach, scrambled eggs and avocado. Hell yeaaaah.

Lunch: Beef Rib Curry, a recipe I got from Nom Nom Paleo. Substituted the lamb with beef as I couldn’t find it here. With a side of avocado. Scrumptious!

Snack: Handful of cashews. (Was a little hesitant about the nuts as I’d gone a little crazy on ’em early on in my Whole30, but figured they’d be going to waste and was feeling peckish.) Cup of bone broth.

Dinner: Wasn’t feeling so hungry after the snackage, so just had two scrambled eggs with the left over curry sauce from Lunch. Delicious combo!

5/9

Breakfast: Tuna, tomato, spinach and spring onion frittata.

Lunch: 3 of my go-to protein balls, the ol’ Scotch Eggs. Also a banana.

Dinner: OK. Not my proudest dinner, I’ll say that straight away. But I still kept Whole30 compliant, so give me that.. Pork rinds (checked and only ingredients were listed as pork, fat and salt), some olives, and some bone broth. I’d had my lunch really late and wasn’t feeling hungry enough for a meal.

6/9  (Legumes Reintroduction)

Breakfast: A MASSIVE Tuna, tomato, spinach, onion, spring onion and avocado frittata.

Lunch: Oxtails with a curry tomato, onion, carrot and leek puree.

Dinner: (10:30pm) Salmon and tuna sashimi with soy sauce. (I also had a tiny bit of pickled ginger and then stopped after realising that it probably has sugar in it. The sashimi was also sprinkled with some sesame seeds, which I tried my best to remove, but I would’ve ended up with some still on.. Hopefully those things haven’t ruined this part of the experiment!)

(11:50pm) As I type, I feel fine- no upset stomach or any skin reactions thus far. I guess tomorrow I’ll be able to see if there are any effects I can outwardly see or feel.

Day 37. Change of plans. (But Legumes Reintroduction in the end!)

Today, I was meant to be having my Legumes Reintroduction Day.

Decided beforehand that I can do without beans and lentils, but that I’d like to try some soy sauce and maybe some peanuts, because they’re things that I used to eat quite a bit.

However, I woke up at 11am (!!!) this morning, so am running way behind schedule in terms of my mealtimes.

Had “breakfast” at lunchtime, only just had my “lunch” now at like 7pm, which therefore means dinner will be inevitable a very late one, if I even have it. The plan was to go for sushi tonight, but doesn’t look like it’s happening now. So looks like tomorrow will be the day.

On another note, let’s talk about sleep. WOW. Since completing the Whole30, looks like it’s gone back to that uninterrupted sleep I was so used to my whole life. I’m still eating the same way as I was during my program, so I think that I was more stressed out during it than I realised. Have a feeling that I was running on a bit of adrenaline or something during those 30 days. Anyway, I’m feeling better today than I had been for the past couple of days. Felt like I had the post-Whole30 blues, or something.

Another thing. Never actually weighed myself before or after my Whole30, although I’m pretty sure I’ve lost a bit of weight since 1 August. On the 30 August, I fit into a pair of jeans I couldn’t for ages. Anyway, yesterday I felt a little tighter in my jeans than I had on the 30 August. It may have just been due to a bigger lunch yesterday or something, but it bothered me a little. Couldn’t help thinking that maybe it was that one bowl of rice I had the other day, but surely that would be silly… wouldn’t it?

Anyway, I’ll still update on what I’ve eaten over the last few days in a couple of hours after I decide if and what I have for dinner.

UPDATE:

In the end, we DID end up going out for sushi. So I had my salmon and tuna sashimi with soy sauce! So far I don’t feel or look any different, I think. Will see how things are tomorrow!

Tchau!

Post Non-Gluten Grains Reintroduction.

Woke up today with the sniffles. Body was a little achy as well.

My skin is feeling better, and my mood has lifted a little compared to the last few days.

Went for my walk, and one thing I noticed was that I had cotton mouth. Really dry throat as well.

It’s quite amazing how sensitive I feel to pretty much EVERYTHING since doing this Whole30. Food, hormones, sleep, emotions.. It kinda feels like crappy food was masking or numbing the effects, and now it’s all coming out into the open.

On thursday, I’ll be reintroducing soy sauce and maybe some peanuts, too. Will be back then!

Tchau.

Food (1/9-3/9)

So instead of the daily food updates, now that I’ve completed my Whole 30 will be doing so over a couple of days instead!

1/9

Breakfast: Spinach, avocado, garlic and egg scramble cooked in ghee. Leftover meatballs.

Lunch: One scotch egg, leftover cabbage stir-fry, carrots, chicken bone broth.

Dinner: Pork Ribs that L made especially for me, and the rest of the leftover meatballs. Check out the ribs below!

2/9

Breakfast: Tuna, avocado and egg scramble. Chicken bone broth.

Lunch: Sweet potato chippies, cumin zucchini and a fried egg. Completely out of meat unfortunately..

Snack: A tablespoon of coconut oil. I do NOT recommend this when starving. Ended up at the supermarket feeling like I was about to puke.

Dinner: Rushed emergency steak and a tomato and egg scramble. Felt much better after getting that into my belly.

3/9 (Non-Gluten Grains Reintroduction)

Breakfast: (10:45am) Steak with tomato, spinach, garlic and egg scramble.

Lunch: (4pm) Bowl of Japanese rice and scrambled eggs. Leftover cumin zucchini and sweet potato chips. A cup of bone broth.

Dinner: (8:30pm) Steak with mustard, sauerkraut, avocado and bone broth.

So I haven’t felt any adverse effects to the rice. Skin feeling the same as it did prior to eating it and no post-rice tummy aches. In fact, it was delicious and I savoured every single grain.

Don’t plan on eating rice daily, as I did growing up, but at this stage I don’t think I’ll give it up completely. I realise it’s probably more an emotional thing more than anything for me, but I don’t think I can rid it from my life 100%.

This thursday the 6th, will be my Legumes Reintroduction. I haven’t missed beans or lentil as such, but I have missed peanuts and soy sauce. So will be back then to see how that goes and to update you with the next few days happenings and meals.

Til then, tchau!

Day 34. Non-Gluten Grains Reintroduction.

So it’s been a couple of days since I last posted.

Last friday, as you may recall, I reintroduced Dairy into my meals. As I’d mentioned, I almost immediately felt an uneasiness and my skin didn’t react very well to it. I also felt quite intensely emotional that evening.

Over the last few days, I’ve still been feeling quite rocky emotionally and today I noticed that two cyst-like pimples have reappeared (although in an area where they hadn’t previously surfaced- by my hairline). So that tells me that I probably should just leave it out.

Today was scheduled to be my Gluten Grains Reintroduction, but I’ve decided that I can do without bread and pasta. The thought of it (crazily enough) just doesn’t appeal to me anymore. I don’t know if I’ll never eat the stuff again but right now, today, I just don’t have the desire for it.

So instead, I’m skipping to the Non-Gluten Grains. Coming from a part-Japanese background, rice has been the staple in my diet for all my life. Although I’m now aware of the downsides of grains in general, the thought of never consuming a steaming hot bowl of rice is still hard to swallow. I feel like the Paleo way of eating has improved things for me in many ways, but I’d like to work out for myself how I outwardly respond to rice and whether or not I can put up with the possible effects, once in a while.

About to go and consume my first bowl of rice in about 40 days, so will update you later on what how it goes (as well as my meals of today and the last few days as well!)

I sincerely hope it goes smoothly..

Tchau!

Liebster Award.

I’m breaking tradition here and posting something completely unrelated to my Whole30 experience. Because yesterday, I received a message from the lovely Aoife from fashionandfairydust letting me know that she’d nominated me for the Liebster Award. I’m such a blogging newbie that I had no idea what this was, but apparently it’s an award given to upcoming bloggers with less than 200 followers. To be honest I’m quite surprised that I even have any followers, seeing as I created this blog more as a diary for myself and a place where I could be held accountable over the last 30 days.

But, I’m very flattered and thought this would be a nice way of introducing the other aspects of myself to the world- not just the wannabe Cavewoman in me. So thanks again, Aoife! 🙂

Official Rules:

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.

2. They must also answer the 11 questions the ‘tagger’ has set for them.

3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

4. They must then choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and tag them in their post.

5. These lucky bloggers must then be told.

6. There are no tag backs.

 

11 things about me…

1. I was born to a Japanese mother and white Australian father- but I don’t really feel like either. I feel like I belong in Hawaii, if anywhere.

2. As a kid, I was obsessed with freaking myself and my friends out with all things supernatural and extraterrestrial. Weirdo, I know.

3. But at the same time, I’ve always LOATHED those silly ghost train rides at the local show. Yeah, go figure!

4. I’m a sucker for old school, corny, R&B..

5. My secret talent is skipping- as in jump rope. I was in a demonstration team as a youngster and would go to other schools showing the kiddies how it’s done.

6. I’ve lived in 4 cities in my lifetime- from 3 different continents.

7. I met my boyfriend in the dodgiest backpackers pub in my hometown almost 6 years ago. Not the most romantic of meeting places, but hey, I’ll always be indebted to that place.

8. I’ve always preferred reading non-fiction to fiction.

9. I’m a woman, but I don’t like shopping. It tires me out.

10. In high school, I wasn’t the cool girl or the nerd. Weird, maybe? My friends and I would spend our lunch breaks all plugged into our discmans, swapping CDs and talking shyeet.

11. I have one younger brother. Always wished I had a sister, although I’ve known my childhood best friend since we were 2 and we’re practically sisters.

 

Questions From fashionandfairydust:

1. When and why did you decide to start blogging?

I decided to start blogging on the 31st of July. Just over a month ago. Because I was starting the Whole30 program, I wanted to create some sort of diary to track my progress and to keep myself from falling off the wagon.

2. Where do you wish you were right now?

I don’t really wish I were anywhere, right now. Pretty content where I am, here in the South of Brazil. 😛

3. What is your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

Well at the moment I’m not working, so my weekends don’t differ much to my weekdays. I used to looooove going out for dinner and hitting the beers, but because I’m in the process of trying to regain my health, spending time by the ocean probably fills that place right now.

4. What is your favourite trend for Fall 2012?

I’m sorry, I’m completely fashion ignorant.. I have no clue as to what’s currently in vogue.

5. Who is your style icon?

Style wise, I like the natural, eclectic look. Erykah Badu comes to mind.

6. What was your best celebrity encounter?

Growing up in Australia, I don’t think I’ve had many celebrity encounters. Did serve the crew from Nine Inch Nails when I was a waitress a couple of times, though. That was pretty crazy!

7. What is the most annoying thing to happen to you recently?

I got chicken pox last year. At age 24, I finally caught it (no idea how). It left me with a few pock marks on my face, which is superficial, but super annoying! 😦

8. Sky-diving or scuba-diving?

Scuba-diving.. I love the sea. No actually I’m just a wuss.

9. Favourite comfort food?

Don’t even get me started… so many to be able to pick a favourite. Although nothing soothes me like Japanese rice, natto and miso soup. It’s in my roots.

10. What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?

The first concert I ever went to. Destiny’s Child in 2000. FOR REAL.

11. One item you regret buying, and one item you regret not buying?

I regret buying a brand new Mazda a couple of years back. We only had it for two years, but had to end up selling it and paying it off as well.

I don’t regret buying my Nikon D7000. It’s my baby and gives me so much joy.

 

My Questions for You:

1. Describe yourself in one word.

2. Where lies your passion?

3. Sweet or savoury?

4.What’s your pet peeve?

5. Who inspires you?

6. Music which gets you movin’?

7. What scares you the most about the world?

8. One thing you can’t leave the house without?

9. Are you an optimist or pessimist?

10. Leader or follower?

11. Any secret talent?

 

My Nominees:

allicatcooks

Joy. Journey. Jotter.

Step Into The Silver Rain

Paleo Packer Fan

BRIGHTERHORIZONS

Forcing Myself Happy

Simply Sands

GOOD WITH COFFEE

Sweat Every Day

Mado Goes Paleo

Sick City Windows

 

Post Dairy Reintroduction.

So after I posted my thoughts on yesterday’s Dairy Reintroduction, things took a twist again.

First of all, my skin felt even grosser. Oily, itchy and a few little pimples appeared. 😦 So no milk and cheese for me if I can help it!

Stranger thing that happened later in the evening was that I suddenly became really emotional. I started feeling really anxious and crappy about things in general, and the tears started rolling. I’m not saying that the Dairy was completely to blame; in fact, I think that it was a combination of that, of finishing my Whole30 and the accumulated stress I probably was under over the past month that I hadn’t realised until finishing, and also PMS. My poor boyfriend was pretty confused about it, but thankfully he was very understanding and talked me through it.

Another weird thing was that during my Whole30, I couldn’t get to sleep straight away, was waking at about 4am every morning, but then still feeling surprisingly refreshed when I’d wake up properly later in the morning. The opposite occurred last night. I was out like a light switch, slept uninterrupted, but then woke up this morning feeling groggy. Yeah, go figure!

Anyway, today I’m back to being completely Whole30 compliant and on the 3rd, I’m scheduled to have my Gluten Grains Reintroduction Day. I’m actually contemplating just skipping that and going straight to Non-Gluten Grains as I’m pretty sure I’m just gonna feel like shyeet, but will see on the day.

Tchau!

P.S I’m taking a break from updating over the next few days, but will feel you in on what happens over the next few days on the 3rd!