Whole30 Update - Week 3 - YouLookFab Forum

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ne-done-it
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e---week-1
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e---week-2

Above are links to my previous posts about my Whole30 challenge in case you want to see the progression.

So I just completed Week 3 - I'm on Day 22 to be exact. Results so far:

Unbelievable energy! Carter you were right - I literally feel 10 years younger. There is no more mid-afternoon lull or yawning on the coach by 8:00 p.m. I worked all day Saturday in my yard like I used to and it felt wonderful. Even hubby has commented that I have "more bounce in my step".
Sleep is completely restful. No more waking up during the night (unless I have too large a cup of herbal tea before bed - lol!) or tossing and turning. I wake up when the alarm goes off and I'm awake and rested feeling.
Sinus issues are completely resolved. Will not be adding dairy back after the 30 days.
Rash has resolved itself as soon as I eliminated coconut. Discoveries through this process have shown I have a mild nut allergy - I'm ok if I only eat a few during the week but if I have almonds more than 3 days in a row, my eczema starts to appear. Coconut gives me an unbelievably itchy rash after the first day of eating.
Absolutely no more gas or bloating at any time. Wonderful! Will not be reintroducing wheat when 30 days are done.
Joint pain completely gone. Even my bad knee is feeling better.
No hunger between meals because my meals are filling and satisfying. Now recognize when I'm truly hungry as opposed to boredom or emotional need to eat.
Starting to notice a real difference in my body composition - apple belly is shrinking. Yay

Overall this has been an incredibly positive and satisfying experiment. April 28th is officially my last day but I already know this is now a lifestyle for me. I never thought of it as a diet - but as a health "re-boot" for me. I go for my blood tests on May 1st and can hardly wait to see if there are improvements in my endocrine levels.

9 years ago

Kimberley

Veteran

Hi Shannon ~ great job, keep it up!!!

Classically Casual

Thanks for these weekly reports, Shannon. They're interesting and inspiring. A good friend started this on 4/1, and her experience is similar to yours. Based on both of you I gave up dairy for 30 days
beginning Saturday. I realized in my whole life I've never gone without dairy for any length of time. I'm already pretty much alcohol/caffeine and gluten free, so for me dairy is the next big category to tackle if needed. Also, there are some social events coming up and I think I can fly under the radar a little easier with just avoiding dairy.

A good night's sleep is worth its weight in gold isn't it??

anne

Excellent news!

Belladogga

Active Member

Fantastic! You are truly inspiring me. So glad for you and I'm really curious to see what the blood tests show.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SO HAPPY FOR YOU. Much love to you too.

Anonymous

Wow! Hats off to you. I seriously don't think I would have your tenacity to stick with it. Well done, and so wonderful to hear how your health has improved so much

carter

Told you so! So happy for you. Nothing beats feeling great. Looking forward to your blood test results.

Alassë

That is amazing! Congratulations!

JayS

Wow! Amazing results..glad things are going so well. I like what you said about a "health re-boot". That's a great way to look at it. Just curious..what has been your biggest challenge so far?

texstyle

Yay! Great news for you. I'm curious, what you eat for lunch most days. This seems to be the hardest meal to avoid certain food groups (for me at least).

Dottie

The funny thing is that I never really miss many things I didn't think I could live without (grains). I am happily satisfied with eating sweet potatoes, butternut squash (all kinds of squash, really), and other plant based carbs. It's a mindset and a lifestyle.

How is it impacting the food budget Shannon - and how is it interacting with feeding your husband and son?

Transcona Shannon

Classically Casual - before giving up diary, my chronic sinusitis would make sure I didn't get a good night's sleep. Now that my sinuses have cleared up, I can breathe through my nose no problem and sleep like a baby.

Diane - when I decide to do something, I'm like a dog with a bone. Stubborn beyond belief really.

JayS - I think the biggest challenge has been giving up wine. Not that I'm a heavy drinker by any means, but my husband and I for years have had a wee tradition where we get home from work, change into our lounge clothes and pour a glass of wine and just talk about our day before we start to make dinner. And although we're still doing that, somehow it feels different with my soda water and lime, you know? So I do know that when the Whole30 challenge is over, I will be bringing back the red wine. But nothing else.

textstyle - what I've been doing is making an extra portion of dinner and then take that for my lunch to work the next day. It's been working really well. And if DS gets to that extra portion before I do I keep pre-cooked chicken breast pieces in the freezer and will make a salad with whatever I have in the fridge, add some avocado and top it with the chicken pieces and some home made salsa.

Anne - the initial grocery shop when I started was huge. But I had a lot of new ingredients to add that weren't already in my pantry - almond flour, coconut oil, etc. But those are now staples and not purchased each week. I've also purchased the meat in larger quantities according to what is on sale and then divide it up into freezer bags for later use. So initially more expensive, but my shopping this past weekend was actually less than our previous groceries. DS is completely on board and really loving the food. He says he's all for continuing on with me. He's also found some relief from some of his asthma symptoms. DH eats most of what I make but has a sweet tooth and a love for all things potatoes (he is a true Irishman!) so just supplements what I've made with his few tweaks. It's working out very well actually.

I really appreciate all of your support ladies - thank you

Deborah

Shannon this is awesome! I have noted similar as a result of my dietary changes:) Looking forward to your test results. And you are looking very well and healthy:)

Though potatoes are compliant now anyway, right?

Woo-hoo! It's so exciting to hear success stories like this.

Suz

Fabulous news, Shannon!

Question: How do you know which foods to reintroduce after the 30 days?

Beth Ann

So glad you're having great results, Shannon!

Nebraskim

Glad the experiment has proven successful. You sound as happy as you look. Your process to determine the coconut and nut allergies is interesting. I dumped wheat four years ago. Do not miss it, except for beer. Many symptoms disappeared, including my asthma, so your son might think about that.

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