Decision Made

Having marked the day on the calendar highlighting my last day on Whole 30 I made the decision today to carry on after Saturday. 

I will weigh and measure on Sunday but then carry on till June. I will decide then whether to continue or change to Paleo. 

I made the decision based on the fact that I feel so damn good – so why spoil it. I don’t have anything special planned before mid July anyway. 

There is a little challenge next week as I will be in China for 4 days. My plan is to eat as much as I am able to and I have a stash of raw nut and fruit Larabars for emergencies 😊

Eating out is always a challenge with Chinese businessmen.   They like you to try food and frankly sometimes it just isn’t going to happen! 

There also won’t be any drinking games …….

With a little foresight and planning I will get by! 

   
 

Weekend Pleasures

I do enjoy the weekend – I’m sure we all do !  It’s that feeling of “I can if I want to ” rather than “I must “.

The weather has been stormy but I’ve still been able to get out and about although Saturday was in a shopping mall. My exercise is walking and I clock up at least 30 minutes per day – more if I can.   This morning I walked from home to Sai Kung town. I enjoy this though it would be better if there was a coastal path. It just under 8 km so not a bad walk at all.  👣👣👣👣👣

Weekends also are for me to enjoy cooking – or just prepping food for the week. I’m trying out new recipes from my Paleo books and some shared from the Internet. The secret to enjoying Paleo and Whole 30 is to make sure that the food is interesting.

Inevitably I am trying out new foods – today’s was Coconut Manna (butter). Oh my – where have you been all my life !  It has the most decadently yummy taste. I’m looking out for recipes to use it – but dipping apple slices in it is currently hitting the spot !

Whole 30 isn’t about losing weight – it’s about resetting your digestion and getting yourself in optimal health. Weight loss is a nice side effect though and judging by the comments I’ve had this weekend the weight is going 😊. How much exactly we will wait till next Sunday to find out 😱

Whole 30 ® Day 21

Two thirds of the way through the Whole 30 .

The keys to success on this programme have been planning and preparation. I plan in the evenings and do most of my preparation on Sunday though I do some mid week cooking as well.

I prepare all my breakfasts and lunches myself and just leave my helper to handle the dinners – she just dives into my Whole 30 cookbooks and comes up with the goods. How lucky am I !

When I say what I’m not eating I get asked “well what can you eat ? you must be starving yourself! “. Trust me – starving is not happening !

If you’d like to try the recipes check out the links below

Breakfast Scotch Egg – http://stupideasypaleo.com/2013/11/23/paleo-breakfast-sausage-scotch-eggs/

Pulled Pork – http://nomnompaleo.com/post/10031990774/slow-cooker-kalua-pig

Home Made Mayo – http://whole30.com/2014/05/mayo/

For even more wonderful recipes check out :

Breakfast – Home Made Scotch Egg , spinach, avocado and banana

Lunch – Bento box to go ! Spicy mashed sardines, avocado, tomato, home made mayo and an apple

Dinner – Pulled Pork, air roasted sweet potato, raw cabbage and carrot and home made mayo

The Final Hurdle

Battling my weight has been a part of my life for a lot longer that I really care to remember!I finally feel that I have found a way of life that I can sustain and that my goal is in sight.

I’d like to share what I hope will be only a few more months of work in progress – and hope to inspire others to do the same.

It was around 5 years ago when I decided I needed to sort myself out once and for all.  I was overweight, yoyo dieting – and basically getting no where.  I was tired, fat and unhappy.  I went to my doctor who did loads of blood tests and told me that I was Insulin Resistant – one step before Type 2 Diabetes .  There followed a lot of medication and monthly follow ups – but no real changes.

I don’t like taking medication so I started delving into nutrition and healthy eating – detoxing being my starting point.  I lost weight and started to feel better and then took the processed foods out of my diet.  After 12 months my glucose levels were back to normal – no more pills!

Even after all this by April 2013 I was gaining weight again and was bordering on a UK size 20 – not a good look !  I was 210 pounds and obese.  Action was again needed!

Fast forward to April 2015 – I had tried hypnosis – that worked for 6 months – then low calorie – but the weighing and counting aargh ! – then intermittent fasting 5:2 – and also the Fat Metabolism Diet – with every one I lost weight and then stopped.  The question was why?

I was by now around 182 pounds and stuck – the only unhealthy habit was wine so what else could I do.  I was still overweight – but had pretty slim arms, legs and face but was holding fat all round the middle.

After more research I came across Whole 30 ® – a strict form of Paleo just for 30 days minimum.  This eliminates added sugars, alcohol,grains,legumes and dairy.  The option is there to slowly introduce any or all of these food groups post 30 days to see what effect they have on your health and wellbeing.

I always had plenty of energy all day but was exhausted by the evening – if you suggested I should go to bed at 8pm I would say thank you and go.

My eating was as below:

9am Protein Shake

10.30am Apple with soft cheese

12 noon Lunch

6.30pm Dinner

7.30pm Fruit and Yoghourt

What a shock I had by day 7 of Whole 30 ® !

• I wasn’t tired !  I can now stay up until 10pm (like a grown up!)
• I am sleeping like a baby – more deep sleep than light sleep (I have a Jawbone so I can monitor my sleep)
• I have curves appearing round my waist in particular
• I am eating more food over three meals with no snacks
• I feel really well !

I’m now on day 20 – 2/3 of the way through and I love it!

More to follow…..……..