It’s Saturday morning, rainy and gray out and I’m sipping coffee in front of the computer. I thought about running or going to yoga but for right now I just want to sit and be still before I head out to teach in a bit. I had so many thoughts running through my head as I was editing photos for this post on things I wanted to say or directions I could take it. My brain seems to focus best in the mornings and evenings.
Before I kick off a post that seems somewhat trivial and “all about me,” I want to send a lot of love out to my ladies who are participating in women’s marches across the country today.
I read this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. to my class on Monday night and the message from it has stuck with me all week long. I just want to remind all of you that you have a voice. Use it for things that matter to you, regardless of the subject. You are worthy of being seen and heard. Don’t doubt that and speak YOUR truth. Respectfully, of course, but unapologetically.
Alright, let’s switch gears and talk about this Whole30 thing. As most of you know, I’m in the midst of my second Whole30 right now but I haven’t felt like sharing it in the same detail as last year. I have a little Facebook posse going with 700+ others doing it with me so I’ve kept most of my Whole30 discussion over there.
But here I am on day 13 and here are 5 thoughts/feelings I’m having about my second Whole30.
- My skin. It’s a mess. Ugh. My internet research tells me that it takes skin about 4-6 weeks to cycle and turnover so I’m guessing the skin I’m dealing with right now is the Christmas cookies making their way out. Haha. I’m being very patient and just taking a deep breath and letting it be because one of the biggest takeaways from my first Whole30 was super clear skin. #alliscoming
- I don’t miss wine nearly as much this go round. I mostly miss sourdough bread and rice. They will probably be the first things I bring back.
- The vacation from sugar has been INCREDIBLE. You know I love my sweet treats but I was really overdoing the sugar in the latter part of 2016.
- Whole30 is a lot easier the second time around since I know what I can and can’t have and have my favorite go-to foods and products. I’m honestly not even thinking about it that much, which is great. I felt like it was very consuming the first time I did it.
- Overall, I feel really great. Sleep has been a little hit or miss but my energy levels throughout the day have been good.
Here’s what I’ve been eating. Warning: it was not a super creative week of eats. I got off track with my menu plan later in the week because of work and breakfast/lunch were pretty boring.
Dinner
Okay, I’m officially an Ina Garten Perfect Roast Chicken evangelist. I roasted a chicken that I picked up from my favorite farmer on Tuesday night and it fed us for two dinners. And FYI…I used olive oil instead of butter to brush over the bird for Whole30.
While the chicken is amazingly delicious and mouthwatering, the veggies that you roast underneath are where it’s at. I chop up whatever I have in the fridge and toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper and let the chicken drippings turn them into magic. This time it was fennel, carrots, potatoes, onions and turnips.
On night one we ate the leg/thigh quarters (my fave) and on night two we ate the breast.
This dinner is called”Tanner was out with a friend and I was on deadline for a project.” Chicken Italian sausage and sauerkraut with roasted kabocha squash. This was one of those sad squashes that get super dry when you roast them so that was a bummer. I ate it anyway because I was hungry.
Lunch
I ate a salad every.single.day this week. Arugula, avocado, pears, radishes, canned salmon, tomatoes, pistachios, olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic, sea salt.
Arugula, artichokes, tomatoes, strawberries, avocado, radishes, dried apricots, hardboiled egg, olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic and sea salt.
Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch massaged with olive oil, sea salt and lemon juice, strawberries, pears, toasted pecans, avocado, hardboiled egg and dried cherries with balsamic.
I’ll stop there. 😛
Breakfast
Remember how I said I was going to mix it up this Whole30? Well, that was a good idea in theory but then I just can’t bring myself to do leftovers, meats and veggies in the morning. I just can’t.
So sweet potatoes.
Scrambled eggs in coconut oil are about as far down the “meat and veggies” breakfast road that I can go. Y’all I don’t even like sautéed spinach or veggies in my eggs. I just like them plain. After years of thinking I liked omelets I realized that I’d just rather have plain scrambled eggs.
Chia pudding post-workout before training a client.
I did like this breakfast casserole that I made (but for lunch most days…) so maybe I’ll leave the sausage out and it will be more appetizing for breakfast? I don’t know. Ideas? Help?
What’s your go-to breakfast? Are you a sweet or savory kind of person?
Do you find that your diet impacts your skin?
right now I’ve been all about the oatmeal…even in this heat wave we’re in…but also smoothies after workouts!
I may start another whole30 round 2 for myself after reading this post…last year I did one in January and was AMAZED at how energized I felt and I was consistently waking up before my alarms and only needing 5-6 hours of sleep whereas currently/previously I was a solid 7.5 to be at my prime.
Yes, diet impacts my skin but I think it’s dairy mainly for me. If i’m at a restaurant or a recipe calls for a little, I’ll eat it because really…flavor : )…but otherwise I avoid it just for that.
I’ve been dealing with really bad skin lately. I don’t eat 100% clean but I don’t eat junk food either. So I’ll have to check what it is that’s breaking me out.
My go-to breakfast is cereal with scrambled eggs on a side, or PBJ bagels. This last one is perfect before going out for a run.
I’m on day 13 of Whole30 with you 🙂 it’s been interesting so far. Exhaustion but bad sleep, headaches, breakouts and annoyed at everything. I have not cheated once and I am keeping myself WELL hydrated. Still waiting for that day when I feel awesome and that this is all my the good.
I’m more of a savory person for breakfast. Eggs, hash, compliant breakfast meat.
*all for my own good*
I’m also not a big fan of savory breakfasts. I do like eggs though, and one veggie I’ve found to really like in my eggs are Vidalia onions (GA girl here 🙂 ). I find them sweet enough to not be off-putting in the morning.
I am glad to hear your thoughts on the skin aspect. I’m on day 15 and my skin is suddenly going nuts, but it was so clear for days 8-14, which is frustrating! Looking forward to seeing it clear up again and seeing what’s causing it.
I don’t like savoury for breakfast either! Maybe brunch on the weekend – but that’s usually a second breakfast. Haha. I love how creative all your salad toppings are!
I’m not a savory breakfast person. My go to is 2 eggs, a banana, 1-2 tbls chia, dash of cinnamon in a blended and made on the griddle. I eat it with fresh berries and sometimes almond butter. I enjoy hearing about your whole 30 experience.
I’m the same- veggies at breakfast just turns me off. i like the chia pudding , but really Alli want is a simple banana and some almond butter with my coffee. This is my 2nd whole 30 and I just think that is what my body likes. I’m trying the Ina Roast chicken tonight- thanks for posting that recipe.
I’m not to into breakfast, I’d like something kind of sweet with my coffee. I really like a big salad for lunch, and your salads look amazing! Tahini dressing, yum! I’m not doing the whole30 but I have found regular milk hurts my gut and that probably affects my skin. Lately I make an energy ball that is my morning snack. I use tahini, chopped dates, dried unsweetened coconut flakes, ground chia, a little bit of coconut flour, some honey, and some dark chocolate. I like the texture and and they satisfy my cookie treat craving. As far as skin, I started to take gelatinized Macca occasionally for cramps and I think it has reduced hormonal flare ups. I’ve never had perfect skin but that has helped what I “normally” would get. ?
Jen,
THANK YOU for mentioning the Women’s March. I attended in Vancouver, and it was amazing. I have to admit, I was growing pretty disheartened at the fact that none of the blogs I read had mentioned it. I know not everyone shares my political views (and hey, I’m from Canada haha), but I was pretty surprised at how few female bloggers seemed to care about the state of their rights.
So thank you 🙂