Every since Christmas I have been looking forward to April 1st. Seems weird, but life has been a bit busy for myself the first three months of the year. I am a person who enjoys busy, but it was something that was a bit much and April 1st seemed like the date that it would all slow down.

On the way plane home from Uganda I jotted down some goals for April & May for myself. Both of these months are slow months for me with work, but also as you all know May comes and end of the school season happens and life just gets bonkers.

One of my main goals for both of these months was to take care of my body physically. I have what you might call “let myself go” in regards to eating and working out. Of course I'd love to lose the 10 pounds I've been trying to lose for 10 years, but whatever, I really want to feel good. Last November when Story started doing Paleo I was with her 100% for a few weeks and I felt awesome. My body felt like it was working right, I had energy, I slept good, and all other kind of good stuff that just might be TMI for this internet space {insert bathroom talk}.  See I didn't even say it, and you know it. Things were just working the right way daily. 😉

So, April was getting closer and closer and I have been entertaining the idea of doing Whole30 for the month. I want to do it for the health benefits, but I don't want to do it for a number of reasons. I'll tell you the top 3. Chips. Wine. Cheese. There, those are my lame top 3 reasons. Just maybe those might be a part of the whole “let myself go” feeling I've been having.

Whatever.

But … I knew I need a clean fresh start and so with much trepidation, I have started Whole30. I'm following it all the way as much as I can. For example, I think the sausage I ate on the first day was not Whole30 compliant. I am not upset with myself, because I could have eaten a donut and I didn't, so I call that non-Whole30 piece of sausage a win.

It's actually not that far off from what we eat on a daily basis around our house. We cook almost 100% Paleo around here for our sweet Story, but what happens after the kids go to bed and on date nights they don't need to know about. Insert the chips, wine & cheese. DANG! So … meals at home will not be a struggle. Out to eat is gonna be hard. I may or may not have eaten enough to feed a small country at my favorite Mexican food restaurant on March 31st because I knew it would be a while before I tasted chips and cheese and a margarita (yes I had a  margarita for lunch …. it was my second to last meal people, chill).

There might be a few of you on here that care what I eat, so I'm gonna keep a journal each week so you can see what we're eating around here. It's for you, but let's be honest, it's for me too. You guys know I have no problem airing my dirty laundry here, so when I screw up you'll know about it. Also when I succeed you better know I'll be shouting that from the rooftops because I'm a little scared of not finishing strong with this whole eating thing. My track record is not the best with sticking to food challenges. In general I'm not the biggest fan of being told what I can and can't do, and when you throw in food I get a bit testy about it. (May or may not be a strong hold in my life, I know, dealing with that too! Give me a few days to vent.)

{WEEK ONE}

{DAY ONE}

Breakfast: scrambled eggs & sausage (that might not be approved) + 2 cups of coffee. BLACK coffee. Not one drop of anything and I didn't spit it out. I might be able to do this.

Lunch: You are not going to believe this but I actually forgot to eat lunch today. Totally weird and not like me at all.

Dinner: Salmon + Kale & Carrot salad complete with a dressing that Aaron made up! He learned how to make one of my  most favorite dressings ever from Second Bar + Kitchen (one of our top restaurants here in Austin) and made it Whole30 compliant. *Except the agave – I don't think that's allowed and he didn't know that until the end. Yes I'm going to continue to eat it, if you were wondering. I'm not stupid.

I had made the kids a separate dinner because we were going on a date (then sick kids happened!) and it was super good. Slow Cooker, Sweet Potato, Chicken + Kale soup = super good and gonna make this again for sure!

Snacks: apple + almond butter, almonds, plantain chips

Workout: Spin class + free weights

 

{DAY TWO}

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + stuff from the soup last night (minus the liquid)

Lunch: Picnic with the kids: Cucumber slices, Sweet Pepper slices, the amazing dip that Aaron made last night, and an awesome tea that I received in my latest TASTE GURU box.

Dinner: Grilled zuchinni, BBQ chicken thighs, green salad, and the most amazing Cauliflower “potato” salad you could even imagine. You are going to want to go and make this as soon as possible! Trust me.

Snacks: Almonds, Carrot chips, and plantain chips

{DAY THREE}

Breakfast: Omelette with green peppers, onions and bacon + coffee

Lunch: leftover soup

Dinner: The most amazing roast ever from Rockin' Mom's Kitchen. (I altered a bit with using coconut oil & red wine vinegar)

 

{DAY FOUR}

Breakfast: Almond Flour Zucchini Bread from Against All Grain website + smoothie (Berries, romaine lettuce, greens, apple, and banana) I hear you aren't supposed to eat replacements for food you aren't supposed to eat, but it's Easter and so I'm eating GF zucchini bread!

Lunch: Potluck at the Ott's house, but here's what I brought: GF brownies from my latest TasteGuru box (which I won't be eating any of …. hello … the fist ingredient is sugar!) + the amazing Cauliflower “Potato” Salad – I promise everything I ate was approved. 🙂

Dinner: Leftover soup, sweet peppers, celery, and salad with tomatoes and bacon

Snacks: uh-oh …. Aaron got home from church tonight and of course while he was eating I made myself a snack. Now before you judge me, it isn't that bad, but I did cheat. UGH. Four days in. I had 1/2 an avocado + tomato slices with some Gluten Free crackers. That's my screw up. I did only eat about 10. Does that help?

 

{DAY FIVE}

Breakfast: 1/2 slice of that glorious zucchini bread from yesterday + smoothie

Lunch: Salad with boiled egg, 1/2 avocado, + tomato

Dinner: Veggie Stir Fry

Snacks: Apple + Almond Butter and plantain chips + salsa

Workout: 30 minute treadmill workout + weights

 

{DAY SIX}

Breakfast: Glowing Green Smoothie

Lunch: Salad w/ chicken from 2nd Bar + Kitchen (I skipped the dressing and cheese and just asked for a side of olive oil + vinegar)

Dinner: left over roast from a few days ago

Snacks: lunch meat in romaine lettuce + boiled egg

Workout: 45 minute treadmill workout + weights

(There's actually only 6 days here because one of these days I was fasting and praying for a friend – feels weird saying that for you all, but you would notice I was missing a day)

There you go folks. I made it through a week of this nonsense, and actually it wasn't that bad. I will say that you might see things on here that are not Whole30 approved, so don't judge me, just know that I'm learning as I go.

Yesterday was my first day to crave something sweet and I was surprised by that because I'm not a sweet person, but all I wanted yesterday was a vanilla latte. I never gave in, but I did text my friend Staci this picture about 4:00. I asked her how bad this drink was for me. I knew the answer, but I think I just needed someone to encourage me not to drink it. To not give in to my cravings. To tell me that I was stronger than that. That I could do this.

I'm proud to say that I had that dang “cola” in my car the whole way home and didn't drink it. It is still in my fridge waiting for me on May 1st!

Have you ever done Whole30? If so, send me your best tips and advice. One week down and three to go!