We’re nearing the end which means I’m more than halfway to my goal. I survived a summer holiday and my anniversary dinner, I tried a new workout routine and I went on a fun hike. My experience with this Whole100 has been very different from my previous one. I’ve had good days and I’ve had bad days. Sometimes, my sugar dragon tried creeping in!
My sister-in-law was asking me how this round of Whole100 is going and to be honest, it has been harder than the last one. Towards the end of my previous Whole100, my husband, brother and his wife did a Whole30 with me. It was like running a marathon, getting tired and restless at the end but then your favorite people start running with you, pushing you, cheering you on. You motivate each other and become each other’s support system. This time, I feel alone. I’m getting restless and there’s nobody pushing me and running with me. Don’t get me wrong, my husband is my biggest supporter but he is also a major foodie. Seeing him eat bad food doesn’t bother me but in social situations, I’ve been feeling left out. It’s awkward when I’m the only one not eating because there are no compliant food options. That’s when my sugar dragon peeks in. I’ve been controlling it well but I feel like my sugar cravings are much stronger this time.
Many people are afraid of doing a Whole30 around a holiday or special event because they’re afraid of missing out on delicious food. I completely understand that feeling! Most holidays revolve around food and special treats. Food is a social experience and nobody wants to be “that person” who denies everything. BUT that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done! I’m here to tell you that it is still possible to enjoy a holiday and all the food that it has to offer. I have had a few compliant events and holidays, including Thanksgiving during my previous Whole100.
For Independence Day, I made sure I had compliant food options. We grilled some Applegate hotdogs and I made my red cabbage salad and potato salad (recipe coming soon). I made a simple patriotic ‘dessert’ so I wouldn’t feel left out- strawberry and blueberry kabobs. I ate lettuce wrapped hotdogs topped with yellow mustard and red cabbage salad. Having healthy meat options is important because then all you need is compliant sides or salads; something you can easily make and take with you to a holiday potluck.
My husband and I celebrated 8 years of marriage this week with a lovely dinner in town. Before deciding on a restaurant and making our dinner reservations, I looked over a few menus online. I wanted to make sure that I had as many compliant options as possible. I chose three meals off the menu that sounded delicious and ones I could work with to make compliant. I ordered a filet mignon with a double order of sautéed seasonal vegetables. They described the steak as a ‘center cut eight-ounce Black Angus filet finished with traditional au Poivre sauce’. I ordered mine sans the sauce and butter on either the steak or the vegetables. My dinner was healthy, delicious and guilt-free.
I recently downloaded the Sweat with Kayla app from iTunes. She’s the girl behind the Beach Body Guide aka BBG workouts. I got the free one week trial and got to sweating- her workouts are seriously no joke. It was a fun experience and very different from anything I’ve done before. I decided not to get the full membership for now, but it’s definitely something that I may get in the future. I’ve been enjoying the workouts my husband gives me even though, I haven’t had much motivation to do them lately. The weather has been too hot which makes me feel irritable and gross. I haven’t done much running on the weekends either. I did, however, go on an adventurous hike with my family and brother-in-law when he was visiting. My hubby wanted me to run the hike but I was too afraid of encountering a wild animal or tripping on the rough terrain. On the way back, I got the courage to run down while everyone walked behind me. When I reached the end of the trail, I did a few sprints. I know I’ll miss the warm weather and being outdoors in a few months when it’s freezing. So hopefully, I can get back on track and start taking more advantage of this beautiful Summer weather.
I hope this post will help motivate you to face your fears of doing a Whole30 around a holiday, birthday or special event. It really is doable if you take the time to plan and execute well. Moderation is key, even when you’re on a super healthy diet. Not eating certain foods has become part of my lifestyle. Let’s see if the sugar dragon decides to make an appearance in the next 20 days, hopefully it stays put. 60 days down, 40 to go!
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