Jul 15, 2014

from taco bell to paleo....


for about as long as i can remember i have had a real love for food...not all kinds, just the kinds that are really bad for you.  i am not sure where it came from, since my mother insisted on serving us vegetables EVERY night for dinner (and setting the timer if we didn't finish in time too).  nonetheless, i would MUCH RATHER eat taco bell, chase it down with a dr. pepper and then for dessert have some chocolate sweet of some kind.  this is the complete opposite of the hubs.  he has been known to steam some brussell sprouts just for fun...he is not ok, err i mean healthy-minded.  he still certainly enjoys his sweets and taco bell with me, but he also fills up on healthy foods as well.  i was recently talking with a friend, who told me about the Whole 30 program.  it sounded like another horrible way to torture someone who likes to eat taco bell, carbs, and cheese.  i began looking into it deeper and found that it just might be a good thing for me to try (plus, she was doing it and i thought i'd join for support and accountability).  so...yesterday we started.  i was soooooo grouchy and hungry and felt deprived...even questioning why i had even started this dumb thing.  i spent several hours researching the program and meals, recipes, etc and decided it might not be so bad to try.  after all, it is fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein (basically nothing else)-much like the paleo diet.  i found a GREAT website of a woman who also did this program and cataloged every meal she eat.  she helped me realize that i just might be able to do this.  her food looks so good.  i thought i'd take her lead and try to journal this journey from taco bell to paleo.  i will most likely add food and thoughts every few days.  stay tuned!

day 1:
this was a hard day because i was at my in-laws house and, although they always have a TON of food, are going out of town for an extended period of time and are trying to get rid of their food.  so, yesterday was not a strong start.
  • breakfast:  scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, coffee
  • lunch:  1/2 chicken breast (seasoned with sea salt and thyme), raspberries, banana with granola (pretty sure that is a big no-no)
  • dinner:  pulled pork (no sauce and no bread), green beans, and a FEW potato waffle fries (old habits die hard)
how i felt:  HORRIBLE!  i hated every minute of it and was grouchy all day...UNTIL i filled up at dinner and felt slightly better.  i thought about quitting about 50 times and, if it weren't for many texts with corrie, i would have.

 


day 2:
  • breakfast:  scrambled eggs with spinach and cucumbers, coffee
  • lunch:  taco meat on a HUGE bed of lettuce, with salsa and a pinch of lime juice, cucumbers, and monkey salad (banana, cashews, and coconut flakes-delish recipe from THIS gal)




  • dinner:  left over taco salad with salsa, strawberry balsamic salad - this was a mixture of strawberries, cucumbers, almond slivers, and a dash of balsamic vinegar.
how i felt:  GREAT day...since i FINALLY went grocery shopping today, i got really excited about cooking and preparing some good meals.  i drank a TON of water...with lemon and cucumbers and lime to flavor it.  peed all day long, but that was ok.  i know there are going to be really tough days, but today was a good day and i feel less bloaty and yucky...i'm sure it is psychological, but who cares!

day 3:
woke up with a massive headache today..im sure it is slightly related to this new program.  i am drastically cutting out sugar from my diet and my body is missing it (so is my mouth).
  • breakfast:  had a hard time eating bfast today-just wasn't hungry.  but i forced myself.  scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms and 2 pieces of bacon, coffee
  • snack:  larabar (coconut cream pie)
  • lunch: leftover taco salad from yesterday
  • dinner:  pulled pork (recipe found here), sweet potato fries (baked with sea salt and coconut oil), sauteed mushrooms and squash, monkey salad
how i felt:  tired and hungry!  the headache lasted most of the day (but was reduced to a dull pain)-hopefully that will go away tomorrow.  overall, still happy i am doing this, but really missing taco bell and donuts! 

day 4:
woke up with another headache (argh!)...i went for a run in the late morning and it did go away...go figure!
  • breakfast:  eggs-sunnyside up (my favorite), mini bell pepper, coffee
  • snack:  larabar
  • lunch:  taco salad repeat, apple pie (don't worry...CLEAN ingredients and W30 approved) recipe HERE
  • dinner:  leftovers from last night,  sauteed squash, green onions, and cherry tomatoes with a dash of garlic and sea salt, small fruit salad

how i felt: awful...tired, hungry, wondering why i am doing this stupid thing...hoping tomorrow is better - - it will be the first night we go out (date night).

day 5:
woke up motivated and feeling good again...amazing what a night of sleep will do (regardless of how much i usually toss and turn).  went to the OC fair with the fam and couldn't believe i actually bought them a funnel cake and DID.NOT.TAKE.ONE.BITE...amazing will power, you say...oh gee, thanks!

  • breakfast:  no surprise here...scrambled eggs with spinach and coffee
  • lunch:  went out to panera with the parentals (thanks, mom and dad)...had an amazing 1/2 salad of greens, chicken, strawberries, pineapple, tangerines, and walnuts.  with a side of fat free poppy seed dressing, bag of whole30-ingredient-approved, potato chips (potatoes, sea salt, and oil were the only ingredients-oh they were so good)
  • dinner:  out with the hubs to the habit-had a dry lettuce wrap and sweet potato fries...what's that?  oh yeah, i had 2 potato french fries to..shhhhh

how i felt:  overall good...still a bit tired...but that could be because i went on my first power walk with my friend dee and she kicked my rear...i was walking faster than i usually run...wow...i was am sore (in all the right places, though.

day 6:
woke up feeling fine (especially since hubs fixed me some delish breakfast), but the day took a turn for the worse.

  • breakfast:  scrambled eggs with onions, mushrooms, and spinach (a new fav), coffee
  • lunch:  tried to eat tuna with paleo mayo and avo but nearly threw up, watermelon
  • dinner:  shredded lime chicken salad with guacamole, watermelon, cucumbers

how i felt:  had a breakdown between bfast and lunch...not sure exactly what went on, but basically the combination of waiting too long between meals and perhaps too much coffee (???like really there is such a thing), but i went into a weird attack of sorts.  i had trouble breathing, chest was tight, felt very anxious, and had to lay down for almost an hour.  it was horrible.  i immediately made a doctor's appointment, so we shall see what happens in a few weeks.  i am thinking anxiety or hypoglycemia...we shall see!

day 7:
i made it...ONE WEEK!!!  just barely (and i am pretty sure i have cheated...).  feeling tired (but what else do i expect, i have two little girls), but feeling good healthy.  i am liking all of the new recipes i am trying and the new ways to feed my family truly healthy meals.  the hubs is in heaven!  i even made paleo, flourless, chocolate chip cookies for him (with bittersweet chocolate chunks).  phew, that is love!

  • breakfast:  officially ran out of eggs.  i had to make a run to starbucks, order their artisan sandwich, sans cheese, gave the bread to my girls and downed the egg and bacon (not sure what other ingredients were in the eggs-probably dairy).  i was desperate to NOT purposefully cheat, so it was the best i could come up with.  oh, and of course, there was an iced coffee involved too
  • lunch:  left over crock pot chicken salad with cucumbers and tomatoes, watermelon
  • snack:  1/2 a larabar (hubs ate the other half...whatever)
  • dinner:  taco salad with salsa and cucumbers

how i felt:  first time i have felt pretty good (besides the given tired).  i feel like i am getting healthier.  i must confess though, i did eat a paleo choc chip cookie.  i am sure this will most likely discredit everything i have done and all that shall follow, but whatever, i needed it.  looking forward to some sausage tomorrow morning...went grocery shopping again!! 

day 8:
nothing major to write about beforehand
 
  • breakfast: two sunny-side up eggs, coffee
  • lunch:  egg salad sandwhich with paleo mayo, watermelon and cherries, paleo cookie
  • dinner:  "brinner"-scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms and sausage

how i felt:  in general felt good all day.  went to the {hot} beach, so i craved fruit all day.  ready for another day.

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