Whole30 - 31 Days in

Well yesterday was the 30th day of doing this 'Whole30' way of eating.  Do I feel any different?  NO Have my energy levels increased? NO    Have my pain levels decreased? NO  Have I lost weight? Marginally, although this wasn't a goal, just a nice bonus.

Well either most people who embark on this must be on REALLY BAD diets to begin with or I am just immune to the effects.  I have read of people having such amazing results, it has really been disappointing not to really experience any.

There wasn't a huge change in the way I eat, just the complete elimination of some foods that I had already dramatically decreased in my diet years ago.

My energy levels are still at an all time low with lack of enthusiasm to boot.  Not so bad if it is a sunny day, but as most of winter is grey, that is somehow reflected in how I feel, no matter what I try to improve it.

I guess if I REALLY think about it, I have had less severe headaches and also of far less frequently during the course of the last month. That is a GOOD thing.  As for the rest of my pain, I haven't noticed a difference...perhaps a very small one, but I could be just imagining that as it isn't significant enough to think wow, look at the difference in my body pain chart that I coloured in 'before' and 'after'.

In fact today after vacuuming just one room, my levels are as high as they ever have been, the burning sensation all down my right side and to be honest I am feeling very despondent with it. I am just so fed up with hurting all the time.  This is my only place to really have a good 'moan' about the pain so this is where it has to be.

I was so hopeful.  Seems it doesn't really matter what I try to do, I am destined to have pain and I guess with that comes the lack of energy and enthusiasm for doing things.

This week is the re-introduction of some of the key foods eliminated.  I will go through with this as that is the whole point of the programme.

Legumes are first - I only really eat peas out of this food group so I don't think they probably have much effect, but I will go through each stage to just be sure.

Day 4 - Non gluten grains are re-introduced

Day 7 - Gluten or Dairy

Day 10 - Dairy or Gluten.

The days in between you return to the Whole30

It will be interesting to see if any of the above bring on the headaches as I have seen a general reduction in those so that is one good thing.

It has been suggested with chronic inflammatory pain conditions that all soy and nightshades also need to be eliminated.  I haven't had any soy during the last 30 days, but perhaps at some stage I will also try eliminating the nightshades as well for several months.  It will have to be after my trip to NZ now.

Just so this post isn't completely picture free I thought I would post some photos of my whimsical Wentworth Wooden puzzles.

Kitchen Cupboard

Books shelf

Day 11

Well I am over a week into my Whole30 programme and doing pretty well with sticking to it.  Not had any major cravings really and enjoying thinking about what to cook for a change rather than just choosing what is easiest.  Although to be honest not a lot is different to how we normally eat, just some of the things that we use such as butter, tomato sauce etc...have had to been cut out, but you can make your own tomato sauce substitute pretty easily and it is nice to know it hasn't got any chemicals, additives etc in it.

No real difference to my pain levels.  Haven't had a headache since Day 1 so that is an improvement. Oh and I have actually lost a little bit of weight - the bloating I was experiencing has gone.  One very strange thing though...since Saturday I have had this gross, almost metallic taste in my mouth.  It doesn't affect the taste of things, but it is there all the time otherwise. Not sure if that has anything to do with the change in diet or something else.  I hope it goes as it isn't especially pleasant I can tell you!

The sun is out this morning, but it is blowing a gale out there...hoping to go for a walk, but looks like dark clouds are fast approaching so will see.  I have a few 'chores' that need attending to first.

Currently reading this - I just wish they wouldn't make the font so small!

I seem to have pretty much lost my blogging mojo for this blog at the moment, so it is not especially exciting, but not a lot is different, the days drift into each other, and it seems despite my best intentions, I don't achieve what I hope to achieve in the day.  Not sure if I expect too much of myself, of it is just the time of the year.  

It Starts with Food.

I have embarked on my 'Whole30' in the hope that it will make a difference and that I can discover if something I am eating is contributing to the inflammation in my body that is causing so much pain.

It is not a diet as such, you cut out some core food items for 30 days and then reintroduce them, one day, rest for a few days and then another.... to see if they have any detrimental effect. (A very basic summary)

I have drawn out my 'body' chart, highlighting all the areas that are problematic for me and also written out a list of 'symptoms' and will compare that at the end of the month after having cut out:

Sugar

Alcohol (not a problem for me as I don't ever drink any)

Grains

Legumes/Pulses

Dairy

Carrageenan, MSG, or added Sulphites

I won't post everything I eat on here, but thought I would post the first day...

Spinach/Chard from the garden - love how I can still pick fresh greens at this time of year!

Chopped up with some tomato and then mixed in with two beaten eggs.

Scrambled egg, spinach and tomato breakfast.

Cold chicken, salad and freshly cooked beetroot for lunch

Salmon, sweet potato, potato, brussel sprouts, beans and cauliflower for dinner.

Also had a couple of apricots and nectarines during the day.

Fresh clean sheets on the bed.

Percy basking in the sunshine yesterday which was quite a contrast to New Year's Day when it absolutely poured down with rain.