The Whole30 Recap

Today is Day 30 of my Whole30 challenge.  I'll do a recap later for what today's foods were, but for now, I want to share the awesomeness of the success.

When I started, these were my numbers:

Weight: 172.3
Bust: 39"
Waist: 33"
Abdomen: 39"
Hips: 40" 

Roughly.  There was up to an inch variance depending on time of day and tape measure used...and whether or not I could breathe.

As of this morning, my numbers are:

Weight: 161.4
Bust: 38"
Waist: 31.5"
Abdomen: 36"
Hips: 38"

...and I can breathe when I take the measurements. 

Not to mention, I feel amazing.  I feel healthier, stronger, clearer.  I still have a raging case of ADOS... (Attention Defici---oooh, sparkly!), some anxiety/panic attacks, and seasonal allergies.  BUT!  I have lost my allergy to pineapple and kept off my allergy to iodine!  So, yay!

Ultimately, I'd like to lose another 10lbs or so and see if I can drop those numbers to 38-28-36.  My first goal was to get my hips to 38"....SUCCESS!  Now, to get the other number for my waist to cooperate... :D 

I'll do another Whole30 challenge in April, just to make sure I'm super hero ready come Memorial Day for Gamex.

Day 28 & 29 - The Whole30

This is it.  These are the final days.

....and I'm sick.... fml.

So, I didn't recap yesterday...and, honestly, I don't remember much of it.  I remember I ate eggs for breakfast...I think I skipped second breakfast and eventually had a salad for lunch...then Ken took me to dinner where I had a steak and shrimp, mashed potatoes, ice cream (I KNOW I KNOW!) and a glass or three of red wine. I don't honestly remember much.  It was an emotionally and physically exhausting day.  I helped my best friend and chiropractor for 6 years, Kara Nania, sell off her equipment and clean her office.  There were so many times I wanted to cry...but, I didn't for her sake.  I couldn't bear seeing her beautiful face streaked with tears.  It's a long story, but suffice it to say she'll be greatly missed.

I skipped the gym today because I feel like crap.  I have zippo energy and whatever energy I appear to have is likely from sheer adrenaline.  I'm skipping the gym tomorrow because I think it will be about the same.

...but, I'm not skipping today's recap...

RECAP

Breakfast: buffalo chicken salad (this was left overs from a few nights ago...I left it in my boss' fridge from the other day when I only ate half.

Lunch: Southwest chicken salad.  Nothing paleo about this, but it was 3pm and I was starving.

Dinner: GF Chicken Noodle Soup to make me feel better.

I also had two bananas and 3 whiskey & sodas because...well... I feel like crap.  The whiskey and soda is my form of medicine, seriously.  It's making my voice sound less crackly.

I've been knitting tonight.  I can't wait to fit into it! It's a backless halter and I hope to make it look amazing.  If I finish it before March 10, I'll wear it to the Comedy & Magic Club when we go to see Jay Leno. :D

Day 24 - The Whole30

Twenty-four days into this challenge and I have found two things: 1) I have a weakness for alcohol; 2) I have a weakness for nutella.

This past week has not been the best of weeks in this challenge, but I had a couple things happen this morning that made me feel recharged and energized and believe that the "sacrifice" is worth every moment.

I have a pair of khakis that I love.  I haven't been able to wear these khakis in a long time.  Like, nearly 10 years.  I kept all my "skinny" clothes because I had this idea that I would someday fit back into a size 8.  Whereas I am not a size 8 yet, these pants weren't size 8s to being with. :)

They were, however, impossible for me to wear.  I can say with honesty and great joy that I can wear these pants again and I know that, come May, these pants will actually fit better than when I got them!

So, to recap yesterday's poor eating choices...

RECAP

*Running 2.5 miles in 30 minutes...went straight to the Farmer's Market...

Breakfast: 4egg omelet with bacon & onions and a side salad with basalmic vinegerette and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Dinner:  Herb crusted salmon with gingered bok choy.  It was delicious.  

I also had a couple Tablespoons of Nutella and a glass of Canadian whiskey and soda (as in soda water).  I need to stop sabotaging myself and just stick with the program.  It works...and I know I'll do it again--probably in April.

 

Day 22 - The Whole30 Program

Zoiks!  What a wild ride this week!  I totally spaced out yesterday, but that's alright.  Food was not on my brain, but I managed to eat breakfast (egg and a half with some bacon and 2 clementines), and a snack of an apple and 2T of peanut butter.  Dinner was steak, swiss chard, and sweet potatoes.  So yum!  I had a gin and tonic that lasted me from about 8pm til about midnight, just because I needed some sort of flavor.

I'm not drinking enough water.  I know this.

My ankle's doing much better from last week.  Given that the hotel still has a hold on my account (I paid for incidentals in cash) and that hold has now caused my account to have an overdraft fee...and I have a ton of work to do for work plus knitting projects to finish and list, I have yet to make it to the gym this week.  My plan is to go running on Saturday.

Still, all in all, I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far.  I'm also excited because I now have a new cosplay goal!  I'm supposed to be Zatanna, Mystique (as Emma Frost), and Sister Psyche over Memorial Day weekend (who knows, maybe I'll throw in a female Captain America, just for kicks!) and I'm totally stoked!  I know I can pull off the looks and not have to worry that someone's thinking I'm too fat (even if that someone's me).

So, to recap food today...

RECAP

Breakfast: 1 mollet egg & copious amounts of coffee

Lunch: I was bad and skipped it...

Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad.  It's very tasty....very tasty.

Back to knitting my epic pet sweater!!

Day 16 - The Whole30

Today started out beautifully.  I slept in, I felt refreshed, and I had a list of things and a schedule and I knew everything was going to be great!

Went to the bank and deposited my check, taking out some cash; went to the post office to pick up the Valentine's gifts for Ken and Dave...and this is sorta where the day fell apart.

You see, I have no depth perception.  Well, I have about 17% depth perception, but that really doesn't help me.  Most of the time, I function very well and know one would know...then there are the days I fall off the sidewalk because I don't realize I'm at the curb.

Like today.

What felt like eternity, I sat on the ground uncertain if I'd actually managed to break my ankle this time.  I'm sure it was only about 5 minutes, but I had several people offering to call an ambulance for me.  Why?  It's just a sprain--and even if it's broke, the car is right there.  Save the ambulance for real emergencies.

Finally decided nothing was broken, so I got up and limped over to the car and climbed in.  We went home, got some ice packs, then went on to the rest of our errands--which seemed to double in time.  What was supposed to take 20 to 30 minutes took us 120 minutes.  And my ankle was throbbing.

Needless to say, today has not been a good eating day.

RECAP

Breakfast/Lunch: 3oz steak, 2 strips bacon, 2 eggs

Dinner: Kung Pao Chicken

It's after midnight and I'm still cooking epic food for the weekend.  This weekend is Orccon2013, the first of three cons for Strategicon.  Ken is on staff (Quartermaster) and I am on staff (Assistant-soon-to-be-Marketing Director).  We stay at the hotel for the convention to, basically, make sure everything runs smoothly.  Our hotel room has no microwave or fridge, and the restaurant is too expensive to eat at for all meals.  SO!  I'm making food.

So far, we have the base of chili, bacon cups for salads (or whatever will stay in them)...and on tap, tarragon chicken salad, and scotch eggs.  We have plans to pick up more salad stuff near the hotel, as well as a pork roast for a great slow-cooker recipe (which, we're taking both of ours).  I figure, if Dave ends up making it down for the weekend, we will have plenty of healthy food to nom on and make the rest of the con jealous of our epic nutrition!  I don't know how much recapping I'll be able to do there, but I'll do my best to let you know!  May have a "Tales from the Con" section...we'll see. :) 

Halfway on The Whole30 Program

I suppose, mathematically speaking, tomorrow would be the actual half way point of the Whole30 Challenge, but, y'know what?  It's been two weeks since I started and that is just awesome.  So, how's the last two weeks been?  Here's a bit of a recap of things.

Things I'm not supposed to know...
I've lost 10 pounds.  I started with 172 (I listed it as 170, because that's what I'd say to people) and I'm at 162.  I've also lost inches.  I always pull the tape tightly because I *hate* those numbers, but lets be realistic--I'm only hurting myself when I do that.  My numbers to start were 38-33-40 and the abdomen (2" from navel) was at 38, as well.  Today, my measurements were 38-31.5-38 and 36 at the abdomen.  I admit it.  I squeed.

Things I have learned...
When they say no alcohol for 30 days, they mean it.  I had a total of 4 vodka tonics in the last 14 days.  The first two didn't do much other than taste icky; the second two plastered me and made me sick to my stomach.  Enough for me to say I'm not doing that again in the next 2 weeks.  Don't care.  Not worth that pain.

I've also learned I need to eat before my workouts.  If I don't, I just can't push the weight (HA! punny!).  I also really need to pay attention to time and eat.  Three times a day is not that difficult.  Protein! Protein! Protein!

Things that have improved...
MY SLEEP! Mostly.  I still have off nights, but for the most part, I'm falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up semi-refreshed.

So, what did I nom on today during one of the most emotionally stressful days of my last few weeks?

RECAP
Breakfast: Chicken livers and coffee.

Lunch: The salad from last night....yum!

Dinner: Spaghetti squash spaghetti with meatballs from last night, chicken, and black olives.  I finished off the meatballs....SO YUM!

Now, I'm getting my magnesium (the powder, coconut milk, a banana and a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder), knitting this sweater for the weekend (you can read about that kinda stuff here), and watching a movie before passing out so I can go to the gym tomorrow and be SHE-RA! 

Tales from the Gym - Silence is Golden

Today's episode found me at my gym, stretching.  I did a bridge type thing to stretch my low back.  Hands in reverse, I hoisted my body on to my head and just held the stretch in my back.  Upon standing, a gentleman began waving at me frantically and whispering something about pushing to lift my head off the mat.  After a few seconds, he finally signed the phrase, "I'm deaf."  To his surprise and relief, I responded with, "Oh!  OK!" and we began an awesome Zen moment of conversation (Note to self: Brush up on ASL).

I did my squat set (190#) and then went to do a new exercise: The Push Press.  I'd been struggling for weeks at 60# Overhead Presses (OHPs), and one of my fellow Lady Lifters suggested the push press to help work the muscles for regular OHPs.  I was very glad she did because I felt like a powerful princess!

...then I pinched my pinky finger whilst putting a 45# plate on my deadlift bar.  Needless to say, my deadlifts were not happening after that.  Nice purple coloring with a bit of blue and the dark red in the center... verreh lovely, indeed.

I'd eaten before I went to the gym and I really think it made a difference.  I wasn't focused on the fact my stomach hurt because it was hungry or that my muscles felt weaker because they didn't have fuel.  Instead, I was a powerful woman--a WONDER WOMAN! 

Tales from the Gym - The Realizations...

My day started as it should--I woke up, kinda, rolled out of bed into my workout gear, rooted around for a pair (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) of socks, and the flattest sneakers I own.  Grabbed my phone and my tablet, my towel, water bottle... I was ready to crush my workout today.

Set it all up in my tablet app (LiftBook, for those interested): StrongLifts 5x5, Workout B, 180# squats, 60# OHPs, and 180# Deadlifts.  I was feeling powerful (except for those OHPs...they are my nemesis).  My squats sets went well.  I was feeling confident and on top of the world.  My OHPs were surprisingly good today...until the 4th set.  That's when I realized there were a lot of guys staring at me...and they weren't staring at my weight.  I looked down and thought, "Oh, geeze...if there is ever an exercise to make feel even *more* chesty... it's this one.  DOUBLE Ds COMIN' AT YA..."  Threw me off, because now I was focused on the fact I have boobs and my workouts are just making them bigger and everyone in the gym is noticing.  Set 4 gave me 3 reps, set 5 gave me 4.

I happily moved to my Deadlifts.  My warm up sets were great, but I only did 2 at 160# instead of my normal 3.  I think I should have done 3 because I only managed to get 3 reps at 180#. This made me very sad.  I like PRs every time I lift.  It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.  I don't know how to handle it when I don't hit those PRs.  Then it makes me worry that I'm losing strength while doing the Whole30 program and I start to freak out.

Of course, apparently, I base my sense of self/self-worth on my lifts.  Oh, THAT is a bad idea (Yes, I know this already)!  When I couldn't do my 5 reps at 180# on the deads, my tapes started blaring in my head.  I tried to drown them out by saying, "Oh, yeah?  I got 3 reps at 180#...and competitive dead lifters only do ONE rep at their weights! So...shut up!"  But, it just got louder.  Apparently, it is better at intimidation than I am.  :(

"So?  You have to get to those weights, first!  You can't even get to 200lbs, let alone 315lbs!  Everything everyone has ever said about you, ever, is true--you worthless excuse for a waste of air!"

Thanks, brain.  So, I went home and consoled myself with an epic Paleo breakfast (which you'll get to read about tonight).  All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not cooking tonight.  I'd burn the kitchen down in all likelihood.

Day 2 - Food Recap

Today was a workout day.

These days always throw me off. I also realized that I need to (at least at the start of this) do something not entirely Whole30 approved--I need a protein shake at night because it's how I drink my magnesium.  I need the magnesium (for now) to help me sleep so I don't have days like today...

6:00am - Alarm goes off.  Killed it.

6:45am - Second alarm goes off.  Killed it.

7:15am - Husband stumbles in to search for a towel...I notice the time and immediately....curl back up and groan.  Despite sleeping the night through, and sleeping soundly, I did not sleep well or restfully.

At this point, I crawled out of bed and got into my workout gear and got ready to leave.  I remember being at the gym and doing my bodyweight squats.  I remember crying about my pathetic OHPs, and I remember empowering myself with 175# dead lifts.  I don't remember driving home.  I remember making breakfast (which I'll share in a sec) and knitting...and the nap I ended up taking...and from there, I remember pretty well.

So. 

RECAP
Breakfast: 3 eggs and 3oz grilled steak
Lunch: I almost missed this and it wasn't balanced at all.  It was simply 3 oz of grilled steak.
Dinner: From The Clothes Make the Girl, I made the Moroccan Pork Chops with cucumber salad.  My husband (who has no interest in being Paleo) loved this meal and was sad there was not more (Note to self: Make large batch of salad).  Despite it being a training day, I haven't really been all that hungry.  Just lethargic.  I'm going to have a banana to cleanse my palate and then have a protein shake later for the magnesium powder.  Probably use 2 scoops of the protein powder, coconut milk, and another banana.  Have a lot of muscle cramps and knots...magnesium and potassium for the win! 

Month End Review - June

Aside from attempting to set my kitchen on fire whilst making lamb chops and then ripping the door knob off our front door, this month has been relatively uneventful in the kitchen.  Some great food and recipes made, naturally, but I've already shared those. :-)


It was fun at the chiropractor's yesterday.  My regular chiro is on vacation, so the "vacation doctor" was in.  I've been having issues recently with muscle cramps and knots (a life long problem that probably is fibromyalga, but I don't want that in my medical records) and after he adjusted my right knee, I got a charlie horse in the arch of my right foot.  Then my neck wouldn't adjust smoothly...  It was a very painful adjustment, let's just say.  Anyway, he asked how my diet was and for the first time in, well, ever, I was able to say, "It's amazing!"  He looked at me in somewhat of disbelief, then I told him about the Blood Type Diet. I said, "I'm Type O, so my diet is mostly protein and veggies.  I've been eating like that for about two months now.  Love it!"  He nodded and considered and then wrote something in my file.  I didn't bother to read it; I probably wouldn't have been able to decipher his writing, anyway.


At the end of this month, I can honestly say that I feel amazing.  Greasy foods no longer settle well in my stomach; I have fewer junk food cravings (my down fall will be potato chips); my water in take has increased exponentially; and my cooking skills have become incredible.  I work out at Curves (doing the circuit) 4 times a week and do Zumba on Saturdays (or, if Zumba's cancelled, I do the circuit) and I do yoga or bike ride or something 2 times a week.  My results have been pretty good--inches are melting away. :-)  I will post the weigh-in and measurement results when I get them next week.


Happy eats!

Exercising + Diet = Results

As a Type O person, according to Dr. D'Adamo, I would thrive with vigorous exercise--like aerobics or running, vertical climbing, ect.  I have found that if I do 30 minutes of vigorous exercise on a daily basis, I feel healthier, I feel stronger, more focused (which is to say my brain actually thinks of productive things rather than wondering why the sky is blue) and more energetic.  Basically, the breakdown of exercises by blood type are as follows:


Type O: challenging physical activity (aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, walking/running, biking, weight lifting, etc)
Type A: meditative exercises/breathing exercises (yoga, pilates, tai chi, etc)
Type B: mentally/physically challenging exercises (group classes, cycling, tennis, martial arts, etc)
Type AB: combo workouts--3 days of physically challenging exercise; 2 days of meditative exercise.


Exercise is important, not just for your muscles and weight loss, but also for helping to deal with stress.  The above concepts do not in any way mean that if you're a Type A, you can't do aerobics or if you're Type O, you can't do yoga.  Not true!  It simply means that these are the ideals for you to handle stress in your life.  When I am angry or frustrated, I really like to go for a jog (or, brisk walk, who am I kidding?!) to "cool off" so to speak.  But, I  love the centering aspect of yoga (which is perfect for when I have an injury and can't do my regular workouts--or I'm on vacation without a gym in sight).


With the Blood Type diet, the word "diet" isn't used in the way we use it.  Yes, weight loss will occur--it's what happens when you start eating properly--but, it's actually referring to your diet, or your nutrition and exercise.  If you want to see results, you have to put in the work.  It's not enough to just eat only certain foods; you have to add in the exercise to truly transform yourself into a better you.

Lifestyle Not Diet

In the past month, I've had more compliments on my skin and my (ever evolving) body composition.  Moreso than when I was a very slim 130lbs, fresh out of college.  I currently tip the scales at 165lbs (give or take, depending on time of day and time of month...bills always through me for a loop!), but I'm losing inches at an impressive rate.  In the last month, alone, I've lost nearly 7" from my body.  As a friend of mine says, "You can lose weight, or you can lose inches.  You can't do both at the same time."  I'll take the inches, thank you!


Back to the skin thing.  I sell Avon.  I use the products, too--specifically, the ANEW(R) Rejuvenate skin care line.  But, more than just a topical solution, I've changed what I put into my body.  I drink less coffee and more tea (black, with cream and stevia); I drink a lot of water; I drink very little soda--and usually only mixed with Rum or Vodka!  I work out 4-6 times a week for at least 30 minutes.  I try to burn 500 calories, daily.  I work hard so I can play harder.  It all pays off.  Yes, the Rejuvenate evened out my skin tone and eliminated a good deal of the acne problem I was having, but my lifestyle choices have helped with the rest.


I knew when I started the gluten-free thing, it was going to take adjusting and getting used to.  It wasn't a fad diet--it was a lifestyle change.  I was going to have to cut out things I loved and find alternatives to fill that void and I've been pretty successful.  There is a plethora of resources out there for gluten-free living.  One of my favorites was and still is Karina's Gluten-Free Goddess.  She has recipes and gives reasons for why some things work and some things don't.  There are other sites, but I always went to her first.


At the beginning of May, I went a step further and decided I wanted to make another lifestyle change and go for the Type O diet plan.  The biggest part of it was eliminating wheat gluten, so I was already mostly there.  A few further adjustments and, viola!  I feel wonderful because I'm putting good food into my body and my body is healing itself.  I still eat fast food, occasionally; I still devour marshmallows, en masse.  I still drink alcohol and beer--gluten free beer!  But it's the healthy life choices I've made that give me the confidence to walk around in belly shirts; it's the healthy life choices I've made that give me the luxury of not having to wear liquid foundation; it's the life choices I've made that empower me to be the best me I can be.


If you're looking to lose weight and, literally, transform your life then look into the genome diet.  If you just want a quick way to shed some pounds, look into the Master Cleanse.  I lost 20lbs in ten days on that thing.  Make a healthy choice--be happier, live better.

End of Month Recap

At the end of the first month of the Blood Type Diet, I can honestly say I didn't do very well with the diet--as in, there are still salads in my fridge that I haven't touched.  I can honestly say, though, that I have eaten much better this month than I have in the past.  I very much enjoyed the foods designed for me--especially the blackstrap granola and the sweet & salty Brussels!

So, why do all this?  Why would I, a geeky girl, who's goal is to break the stereotypes of geeky girls and redefine beauty, diet and exercise as much as I do?  Well, first of all, I need to be beautiful to me; second of all, I need to be healthy; third of all...I actually enjoy working out, so I would do that anyway.

My idea of "beauty" isn't tied to a number on a scales.  I don't need to be 120lbs (in fact, I would look rather sickly at 120lbs).  My goals are tied to the numbers of my figure--40-28-38.  I've seen my body with a 28" waist and 36" hips before.  The 36" hips were too thin--you could actually see my pelvis.  Curves are what make a woman sexy--no matter your body type.  I happen to be an hourglass shape.  I have friends who are apples, pears, and rulers--embrace that body type and be you! :-)

Another reason for the diet & exercise--I do a lot of cosplaying.  Do I need to be rail-thin to do it?  No; but I would certainly like to rock the spandex and pull off some costumes like Catwoman or Bat Girl; Rogue or even Wonder Woman.  I don't need to be a size 2 to do it, either.  In my mind, I just need to look like I could actually save the world, and for me, that requires muscles.

Finally, everyone points to Marilyn Monroe wearing a size 14.  She did--and her measurements were smaller than mine and I wear a 10 or 12.  Beauty isn't tied to numbers.  It's what is in the heart--what's in your eyes--what comes out when you speak and how you treat others.  One of my favorite songs says, "She ain't pretty, she just looks that way."  It reminds me of what physical beauty can often be...just looks.

Week 4 - Status Update

So, sorry I haven't actually posted for a bit.  We had a gaming convention over the holiday weekend (those are always a great trial for diets!) and I'm just now getting caught up with things.  Plus, before that, it was non-stop sewing on costumes.  I'll post those later.

So, I'm down to 164-165lbs currently.  I attribute that to the diet plan and the three to four times per week workouts of varying intensity.  I absolutely love the combinations of veggies and protein this diet calls for and the fact it's an 80/20 diet.  As long as I follow it at least 80% of the time, it's going to work.  So, if I'm short on cash and/or really in the mood for tacos, I can go to Jack-in-the-Box and order some with no guilt.  I've found, too, that I'm not eating as many as I used to.  I used to eat between 6 and 8 tacos on my own.  Now, I top out around 4, if I'm really hungry.

Over the weekend, I prepared two different salads (Dandelion greens based and kale based) and some homemade granola.  I shared the granola with other gamers and there were two at a Pathfinder session that seemed to just mouth-gasm over it.  It's a great granola that's made with blackstrap molasses, dried fruit, and walnuts and pecans.  Plus flaxseeds.  And rice cereal.  It's really amazingly good.  So, while we're sitting around the table trying to decide how we're going to defeat the enemies, we're noshing on granola that's actually fairly low-cal and extremely healthy (and in my case, very beneficial to my body).

I feel much better when I stick to the foods in the diet.  We had green tea poached chicken the other night, which was good.  But our side dish was better.  Sweet & Salty brussels sprouts.  Oh, yeah...that's getting made again!  Once I hit my goal weight (145lbs), we'll see how I look and feel.  I'm hoping to hit that by mid-July.  We'll see.

Here are the pics from the weekend.

Indigo Lantern Tribe
(Sunday, May 27, 2012)

Madelyne Pryor
(Friday, May 25, 2012)