I AM SORRY. I'm on day two of a Whole30* diet and while it's not something I'd normally categorize as "stuff I like" so far I'm really digging the challenge of it. (I promise this will not become a Whole30 blog and I'll probably be regretting this decision pretty soon.) For the uninitiated, it's a 30 day strict elimination diet that prohibits everything I love a bit too much: booze, sugar, grains, dairy, legumes and soy. I've been toying with the idea of doing this for a while, partially as a reset to break some bad habits and also as a legit elimination diet to try and pinpoint some GI and other health issues.
If you're rolling your eyes I totally understand but I don't think there's any harm in eating only unprocessed food for 30 days, and, if nothing else I get the pleasure of making my own mayonnaise. (Have you done this? It's kinda fun.) Has anyone done a Whole30? I am very open to good recipes and tactics! In the meantime I will share this recipe for Smoky Roasted Sweet Potatoes that I've been eating with my eggs for breakfast. I used slightly less bacon than the recipe called for and it's still crazy delicious. I also made this Kalua Pork recipe earlier this week and it's quite good as a base protein - I've been eating it topped with mango salsa. This weekend I'll probably make a big batch of Crispy Italian Chicken Thighs because they're cheap, easy and delicious.
I'm still reading Bill Bryson but on deck is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami which comes highly recommended by my friend Ann. I've been reading some pretty un-challenging stuff lately so I'm ready to get back in it. Also, on a whim I've downloaded Stephen King's It from the library which I loved when I first read it in high school. Will I love it now? We'll see. (Pro tip: If you read Kindle books from the library, keep your device on airplane mode and they can't take them back until you're done reading. Yes, I am a jerk.)
Lately I've been trying to clear out my DVR and have been watching episodes of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown. I really, really loved the Houston episode that aired last fall, not because I'm a big fan of Houston (where I've never been) but because it perfectly captured the true melting pot that is the United States. In the current season I very much enjoyed the Antarctica episode because the people that live and work their are living such an unusual (and oddly enviable) life. I'm not crazy about the fairly graphic animal slaughter scenes (I'm looking at you, Porto) but overall I find this show really interesting and compelling. Plus, Bourdain is my favorite curmudgeon.
Nothing new! Recommendations? Podcasts? Music? Whatcha got?
I know this is beauty-related but too bad, it's good! Sephora currently has this Lashstash To Go mascara sampler and it is SUCH A GOOD THING. You get five deluxe sample sized tubes of mascara (the best size in my book) and it also comes with a voucher to get a free full-sized version of your favorite from the box! That is what takes it over the top. I'll do a full review next week but I'm pretty damn happy with it. I am such a sucker for Sephora's value sets but it's a great way to try new products without the messy commitment.
*I'm not linking the Whole30 as I just started and have no idea what my feelings will be in 28 days. Basically, I didn't want to appear to be promoting it. Please Google if you're curious! Mostly I just wanted to talk about it a little bit in case anyone had great recipes or tips.
I love Parts Unknown. The one on Charleston is so good. I went there on my honeymoon and it's one of my favorite cities. My favorite podcast is Extra Hot Great. It's a really funny, but in-depth, discussion of television.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I also love Charleston. :)
DeleteThank you for that tip! E-books from our library are only lent out for 2 weeks and that isn't always enough time!
ReplyDeleteI'm all for eating less sugar, booze, and processed foods...but eliminating whole grains and legumes?? That makes no sense. They provide important nutrients. And then on top of that, you can eat bacon? What the heck? Bacon is a "processed meat" which is full of saturated fat. There are so many ridiculous diets out there.
ReplyDeleteAh, there it is. The comment I knew I'd get. This is not a for-life diet, this is a 30 elimination diet. You remove the things that often cause issues (beans and wheat are among the things that often cause GI issues.) Then you add them back in one at a time and see if you're reactive.
DeleteBacon is compliant, but only if it's sugar and nitrate-free (which means expensive) so I'm not going to be eating a lot of it. You can also eat all the vegetables, all fruit, nuts, various oils, avocado, potatoes (white and sweet) and most meat, preferably organic/grass fed. I doubt you really care, but I can't imagine what harm it'll do to eat this way for four weeks.
Hey, I appreciate the explanation. I actually think it does make sense to eliminate foods from your diet if you are having GI issues or allergies to figure out what might be causing it. And I agree that 4 weeks on this diet probably won't cause any harm...although diets can mess up your metabolism. I just hate to see it when people go on some inane diet. The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that will sell anyone anything just to make a buck. Most diets probably do more harm than good. It's much better to change your eating habits for the rest of your life than to go on a crash diet. But in your case, I understand that you're looking for answers to what is causing your GI issues, so I hope it helps give you some answers.
DeleteI'm with you! There are a ton of shitty diets out there and in general I'm not a fan of fads. However, there's no calorie counting or restriction for the Whole30 and you eat a ton of vegetables and fruit so I don't think it's in any way dangerous. Pretty much all the info is on the website for no charge, so you don't have to buy the books and whatnot. I do have GI issues (and some other issues that might be food sensitivities) so I figured it was worth a shot. Also, not a bad idea to rid my sugar addiction and give my liver a break for a month...
DeleteGood luck w/ the Whole30. I don't think I could last a week. Looking forward to the findings at the end. And I always keep my kindle in airplane mode when I have library books. It is awesome. Although once I accidentally turned it off and my book went poof. It was a sad day.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad when that happens.
DeleteI have been on a road trip and loving the My Favorite Murder podcast. It's like sitting at a table with your two hilarious girlfriends who are geeking out about murders.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about this one! I need to download it already.
DeleteMFM is awesome! It got me through the election with my sanity (mostly) intact. I listened to about forty of them in a matter of weeks.
DeleteI did Whole30 a month or so ago. Though to be honest I only made it 15 days in large part because everyone in my life was making comments like the one you just got up there^^^.
ReplyDeleteI just got tired of explaining/justifying it. Stay strong!
While I was doing it, I loved the challenge but (as I'm sure you know) food prep was the key. Weekends were hardest for me because those were the times we dined out the most or when my family wanted to order a pizza. Next time I do it (and I will just so I can prove I can do 30 days) I'll do better about prepping some weekend foods.
Oh! And I'm sure you're following Whole30 on Instagram. I've found a few good recipes in there. I'm usually me about tuna, but loved this one: https://instagram.com/p/BTkhLX4F6SA/
DeleteThis was delicious as well https://instagram.com/p/BTSJixCAi6i/
I did the Whole30 seriously a few years ago, no cheats, and while I didn't really discover any sensitivities, it helped me manage my sweet tooth, I had a ton more energy and slept better afterwards, and I continued to eat mostly on plan during the week for several months (weekends were full of wine and carbs) and lost quite a bit of weight. I've followed the principles for shorter periods a few times since as a diet reset. I think it's a great thing to try - especially if you have GI issues. I heavily relied on Mel Jouwan's recipes and tips (formerly clothesmakethegirl, now https://meljoulwan.com/). Her cookbooks are awesome, I've loved almost every recipe I've tried, and many are still in regular rotation (current obsession is her gyoza meatballs). I also regularly make a bunch of the pressure cooker meat recipes at nomnompaleo.com (lemongrass chicken, kalua pork, bo kho, and beef stew) with some substitutions/mods (e.g., different cuts of meat, if I'm not whole-30ing I use soy sauce, and my husband won't eat mushrooms so...). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGreat info, thank you! I linked a few Nom Nom Paleo recipes above, including the Kalua Pork which I made earlier this week. (It's delicious with mango salsa.)
DeleteRecent podcasts I've enjoyed have been The Black Tapes, Rabbits (both by the peeps behind Pacific NW stories...company name is MinnowBeatsWhale). Also liked EOS10 - kind of a wacky, sci-fi/soap opera. Also an interesting one-off podcast from This American Life called "switched at birth".
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI did Whole 30 in February and it was a huge challenge because I have always been a pretty shoddy eater. Like, I have been known to eat a banana split for breakfast. I knew the drive-thru person at Wendy's by name. Cheap white bread was my favorite snack. My experience was pretty identical to Aryn's. I did not discover any food sensititivies but it really got my sugar addiction under control. I occasionally eat sweets now, but maybe once every other week and only if it is something really quality. I drink maybe one soda a month, and I previously had one can a day, sometimes two. I am not following any sort of plan now, but I just eat healthier and make better choices. I can look at someone eating a candy bar or piece of cheesecake and not feel any cravings. I don't feel bitter that I am drinking water while everyone else has a soda or wine. (Although I do drink every once in a while.)
ReplyDeleteMy legs were achey between day 3 and day 10, especially at night, but that is supposedly due to the release of toxins? I don't generally believe stuff like that, but they were super hurty.
Doing this Whole30 is definitely helping to break my sugar addiction and it's forcing me to eat lots more vegetables, which isn't a bad thing. So far it's not been too hard.
DeleteI hope the Whole30 helps you figure out what is bothering you, but in case it doesn't, my doc recommended the FODMAPS diet and while it is no way to eat for an extended period of time, doing it for 4 weeks completely let my gut calm down and helped me pinpoint exactly what caused my issues---which were surprisingly all things I thought were healthy & good and I was trying to eat more and more of (certain nuts, beans, certain veggies, and lots of fruits). It sucks that I can't really eat peaches and cherries and apples or add chickpeas to my salad, but not being bloated & crampy is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI just finished the Crimetown pod cast... it was awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've done a Whole47 then a slow reintro, and 2 resets of 14 and 15 days in the last 2 years. I tell people unless they read the books to not comment on my choices as I am not making any choices for them or asking them to cater to me. It has been eye opening for my health (autoimmune disorders). How are you doing so far?
ReplyDeleteI'm on day 9 and so far it's been okay! My sleep has really improved and my stomach seems much happier. Early days, but so far, so good.
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