I cheated...

I will admit I have failed at the Whole30. My friends tell me no I haven’t failed yet if I go by the book, oh man have I ever!

At the beginning of my Whole30 it was hard to consistently find items that were on the eat list and items to avoid. It was really amazing reading the ingredients to every day products that cause a lot of inflammation and imbalances to our bodies such as certain oils and added sugar is seriously in EVERYTHING. If anything, this experience has brought me back to cooking at home more often. It took me forever to go grocery shopping and worse I had to hide all the food that was already in the house that I was unable to eat but really wanted to J After using the lists, reading the ingredients from the foods I knew I would eat consistently, and reiterating to myself the ‘foods to avoid’ list I felt like I was on the road to success and there would be no cheat days!

Even with all of my precautions I still managed to either accidentally find something in my meal on the no no list or allow my self a ‘cheat’- reflects my lack of self control. Up until yesterday, I was able to count on both hands how much and what I have consumed on the no eat list on purpose and on accident. Since the start I have had (this does not include yesterdays consumption of a chocolate mousse cake and truffle from Pix which was totally worth the sugar overload):

• 8 drinks
• 6 french fries
• 32 corn tortilla chips
• ½ ounce of gruyere cheese
• 1 ounce of Guatemalan 80%+
• 2 ounces of roasted peanuts (which I have also found out, I should no longer have)

So I have decided that yes, I will finish strong and then attempt Whole30 again in a month or so. I realize that I have talked myself up to complete this but also realize that it may take practice to get through it perfect, not that it needs to be. I strive to finish everything 100% without cheating- I mean I have tried to beat every level of Candy Crush with 3 stars and no boosts, and that is proving to be near impossible. I am determined to try again and learn new recipes and finish this round strong!

Support System

One thing that is so helpful when trying something new like Whole30 is to have a good support system and good resources. Through my research on the Whole30 it recommends making your goals public such as through social media like Facebook or writing them on a sticky note for all to see, Instagram or Twitter. Not only does it help make you accountable for sticking with your goal but also it is nice to have someone to cheer you on when it gets tough or to find and share recipes when you feel like you’ve eaten the same thing again and again.

I really wanted someone to share this experience with to be each others cheering section. Unfortunately there wasn’t anyone up to challenge to start cold turkey with me but it has worked out pretty well. Family members and friends have asked me for recipes and my favorite guy has gone back to his paleo routine and keeps me on track. Many people who I thought would be supportive and excited for me turned out to be many of the naysayers. On top of doing some intense book reading and web surfing I also took in some advice and wisdom from several colleagues who have already done the Whole30 and are a year or so into their paleo lifestyle. They have asked about my progression, been on top of catching me of eating something I shouldn’t, and cheered me on when I got frustrated.

Some of the best resources have been the detailed shopping and pantry lists. Reading several books to get the scientific aspects down and to understand the affects of certain foods on our system has given me a better understanding of why certain foods are omitted. Going grocery shopping with someone to help keep you on track helps save you money too. I used to think all the help books and downloads were silly, but in reality they can be the most helpful guides.

One thing that keeps me going is hearing the success stories and how others are fairing. I also find new recipes to try and get more words of wisdom to help me through my workouts and meals. A friend who has been an inspiration for my quest to healthy living directed me to her groups’ blog http://girlswhoclean.wordpress.com/ that follows their triumphs, hardships and inspirations. Their stories are part of my daily routine to remind me that I am not alone in my quest to become healthier.

If you’d like to see some more yummy recipes or need some ideas follow me on Instagram @ridiculousday

Happy Super Bowl!

Once a year I get together with friends and sometimes family, if we’re in the same area, and we watch, yell, stuff our faces with amazing food and yell some more at the sight of some of the nations top athletes run around and tackle each other all in the name of football. This is my holiday: Super Bowl Sunday.

I base a lot of my favorite holidays around the delicious food we bring to the table and yes the messages that the holidays bring. But a day of football like this brings a different sense of togetherness- where it’s okay to slap the person sitting next to you when your team brings their team to their knees or to curse along with the rest of the company that the ref was blind and what a stupid call that was. And more importantly, for the people who don’t normally cook or rarely get asked to bring something to share, this is your moment to shine.

Unless otherwise stated, Super Bowl is usually a form of potluck and BYOB. Well here you go- go ahead and bring that Velveeta cheese dip with the canned chili to share (I’ve made this and it was a hit- no not paleo approved), the frito pie that grandma wouldn’t let you serve at Christmas Eve dinner or easier still bring beer to share from each city that is represented. We are doing this, this year- New Belgium Folly pack, Fort Collins, CO, Red Hook Folly pack, Seattle, WA and Angry Orchard Cider folly pack for the gluten free drinkers. Yeah the last one isn’t from either but we must accommodate! Essentially Super Bowl calls for glorified bar food and no matter what you bring people will love it because it brought everyone together.

This holiday is not on your paleo or Whole30 approved list! Well neither is most of what I used to eat on this awesome day but we accommodate! Don’t let your desire to eat healthy even on a typically unhealthy holiday stop you from eating what you want or bringing something to share. Seriously, I made a gluten free, dairy free Thanksgiving last year and it was awesome according to the gluten and dairy consuming portion of the family.

This year’s menu for us consists of a taco bar, so you can add or omit anything you want! Pulled pork or shredded chicken does not have to always be in a shell- make it into a taco sala! We have romaine lettuce to use as “shells” for the gluten free folk and I have attempted to make fried plantain ‘shells’ from a recipe I found on Pinterest. Needless to say, before I bring those to a party they need to be practiced a little more. We make our own taco seasoning so we know exactly what is going into our meal and makes it even more homemade. Sweet potato chips taste just as good with guacamole and pico on them. You have so many options- bunless burgers and brats, make an awesome salad for a side or who doesn’t like homemade nut mixes. We're kicking off the day with a brunch of a hearty bacon and egg breakfast and mimosas to share. Yes, no alcohol on Whole30 my Cheats post soon to follow.

So go out there and root for your team, eat something you haven’t tried before and try not to throw anything at the TV when the Broncos kick the Seahawks butt. HAPPY SUPER BOWL everyone!