Wake Up Call
Today began much like any other. I rolled out of bed, groggy and sore, and deeply regretting the box of Swiss Rolls that disappeared during the game the night before, hoping a hot shower would take the sleepy/gross feeling away.
About 2 minutes in it hit me: Today is Day 1 of the Whole30! My first reaction was to panic - did I have something I wasn't supposed to? Have a messed it up yet? What am I allowed to eat again?
The doubts quickly cleared as my brain woke up and I made my way to the coffee pot. Thank God for the coffee pot. Thank you, Whole30, for letting me keep the coffee pot. This would be a much different journey without it! We'll delve into that later, but rest assured, coffee is the deciding factor in my Whole30 success
Today began much like any other. I rolled out of bed, groggy and sore, and deeply regretting the box of Swiss Rolls that disappeared during the game the night before, hoping a hot shower would take the sleepy/gross feeling away.
About 2 minutes in it hit me: Today is Day 1 of the Whole30! My first reaction was to panic - did I have something I wasn't supposed to? Have a messed it up yet? What am I allowed to eat again?
The doubts quickly cleared as my brain woke up and I made my way to the coffee pot. Thank God for the coffee pot. Thank you, Whole30, for letting me keep the coffee pot. This would be a much different journey without it! We'll delve into that later, but rest assured, coffee is the deciding factor in my Whole30 success
The Reality
After an intense menu-planning session, a crazy shopping trip, and an all-hands-on-deck pantry turn-around, I would be lying to say I'm not a little intimated. Think about it. Big changes are scary! Not only am I a little unsure as to how I will be surviving without Dove(c) dark chocolate for the rest of the month, but the idea of pre-preparing every meal, cooking at 7a.m., and using Ghee (still don't know how you pronounce that but for me it's going to stay 'the butter stuff') has me somewhat frazzled. I am cooking for a diva of a 3-year-old and a husband who thinks that a serving of Nerds(c) is apart of a healthy breakfast... I guess you could say I'm in a little over my head.
But there are some perks, for instance, the taste. The taste, the taste - the TASTE! Did you have any idea that veggies were so good? I certainly didn't! Now that they're not drowning in dressing or sauces, I have so enjoyed the taste of fresh, organic vegetables. Now don't get me wrong, a warm carbalicious roll dripping with butter would have tasted amazing too, but for my first day I was pleasantly surprised to see that the taste isn't all out of my diet for the next month - it's just a little crunchier than it was before.
After an intense menu-planning session, a crazy shopping trip, and an all-hands-on-deck pantry turn-around, I would be lying to say I'm not a little intimated. Think about it. Big changes are scary! Not only am I a little unsure as to how I will be surviving without Dove(c) dark chocolate for the rest of the month, but the idea of pre-preparing every meal, cooking at 7a.m., and using Ghee (still don't know how you pronounce that but for me it's going to stay 'the butter stuff') has me somewhat frazzled. I am cooking for a diva of a 3-year-old and a husband who thinks that a serving of Nerds(c) is apart of a healthy breakfast... I guess you could say I'm in a little over my head.
But there are some perks, for instance, the taste. The taste, the taste - the TASTE! Did you have any idea that veggies were so good? I certainly didn't! Now that they're not drowning in dressing or sauces, I have so enjoyed the taste of fresh, organic vegetables. Now don't get me wrong, a warm carbalicious roll dripping with butter would have tasted amazing too, but for my first day I was pleasantly surprised to see that the taste isn't all out of my diet for the next month - it's just a little crunchier than it was before.
The Coffee Thing
If you're anything like me you have probably been drinking coffee for as long as you remember. I am proud to say I am a coffee snob, a Starbucks-only drinker for the most part, and my view on coffee is that if it's not strong it's a waste of time. I was scared to death by the notion that I would have to enjoy my beloved cup every morning BLACK. I've never been a sugar-drinker, but take away my half-and-half and we have major issues. I've tried going to the fat free stuff, or the 'light cream' (please someone explain to me that oxymoron: if it's light it's not cream) but I could never handle the aftertaste or lack-of-taste. However, I really wanted to find a solution to keep coffee in my life without breaking the Whole30. So, about a week before my Day 1, I took the plunge. I figured I would ease myself into it - anyone can acquire a new taste if given enough time! I just knew I didn't want to land on my Day 1 and have to fight my way through the only goodness left in my life because I wasn't used to the taste.
So.... I did it. And I LOVE it! I feel like it has opened my eyes to an entirely new world of coffee-drinking! I had had light roasted coffee black before, but it was usually the consistency of strong tea so it didn't count. The first couple of cups were a little strong and I had to take my time getting through them, but then it just clicked and now I am so in love with the boldness of flavor, the little delicacy of richly smoked coffee beans, that I'm getting excited just thinking about it. If you're out there and you've never tried your beloved coffee black, do yourself the biggest favor of your life and strip it down - just you and the coffee, with nothing in between. I promise you won't be sorry!
If you're anything like me you have probably been drinking coffee for as long as you remember. I am proud to say I am a coffee snob, a Starbucks-only drinker for the most part, and my view on coffee is that if it's not strong it's a waste of time. I was scared to death by the notion that I would have to enjoy my beloved cup every morning BLACK. I've never been a sugar-drinker, but take away my half-and-half and we have major issues. I've tried going to the fat free stuff, or the 'light cream' (please someone explain to me that oxymoron: if it's light it's not cream) but I could never handle the aftertaste or lack-of-taste. However, I really wanted to find a solution to keep coffee in my life without breaking the Whole30. So, about a week before my Day 1, I took the plunge. I figured I would ease myself into it - anyone can acquire a new taste if given enough time! I just knew I didn't want to land on my Day 1 and have to fight my way through the only goodness left in my life because I wasn't used to the taste.
So.... I did it. And I LOVE it! I feel like it has opened my eyes to an entirely new world of coffee-drinking! I had had light roasted coffee black before, but it was usually the consistency of strong tea so it didn't count. The first couple of cups were a little strong and I had to take my time getting through them, but then it just clicked and now I am so in love with the boldness of flavor, the little delicacy of richly smoked coffee beans, that I'm getting excited just thinking about it. If you're out there and you've never tried your beloved coffee black, do yourself the biggest favor of your life and strip it down - just you and the coffee, with nothing in between. I promise you won't be sorry!
Reflections
Overall I have to say my Day 1 was a really good day. Although I found myself choking through breakfast as I'm not accustomed to eating anything before 10am, I realized that instead of being starving all day I was actually full until lunch time! Not the icky, need to lay down full, but the I-can-actually-concentrate, don't-need-to-eat full! I cruised past my first few temptations like a breeze, including the German Chocolate Cake in the lunch room at work that everybody was raving about (I better get extra points for that one), and found myself at the end of the day full with a sense of accomplishment and excitement - not guilt and defeat. If I were to rate this day on a 1-10 scale (1 being 'Shoot Me' and 10 being 'Been Doing This All My Life') I would have to honestly say today was an 8. No major hurdles, plenty of pleasant surprises, and enough optimism to keep me away from the toast tomorrow morning. From where I'm sitting right now, this could be really, really good!
Overall I have to say my Day 1 was a really good day. Although I found myself choking through breakfast as I'm not accustomed to eating anything before 10am, I realized that instead of being starving all day I was actually full until lunch time! Not the icky, need to lay down full, but the I-can-actually-concentrate, don't-need-to-eat full! I cruised past my first few temptations like a breeze, including the German Chocolate Cake in the lunch room at work that everybody was raving about (I better get extra points for that one), and found myself at the end of the day full with a sense of accomplishment and excitement - not guilt and defeat. If I were to rate this day on a 1-10 scale (1 being 'Shoot Me' and 10 being 'Been Doing This All My Life') I would have to honestly say today was an 8. No major hurdles, plenty of pleasant surprises, and enough optimism to keep me away from the toast tomorrow morning. From where I'm sitting right now, this could be really, really good!
Day 1 Menu
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs, Chicken Sausages & Fruit
Lunch
Chef Salad with Cashews & Raisins
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs, Chicken Sausages & Fruit
Lunch
Chef Salad with Cashews & Raisins
Dinner
Hamburgers, Sweet Potato, Broccoli, Carrots
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