Tag Archives: Whole 30

Perception Versus Reality

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Thanks to my new Whole 30 lifestyle, I have lost some weight. Actually, I have lost a good bit of weight. In the process, I have received much positive feedback but it has been hard to cope with because I had one small problem: I couldn’t see it. I literally could not see what everyone else was praising. Every glimpse in the mirror revealed only what I have always believed to be there.

But today was different. I got up early for my daily walk, slipped into shorts and a tank and covered up my unruly hair with a ball cap -no make up and nothing pretty to look at. I bent down while brushing my teeth and caught a glimpse of my reflection when I straightened.

I didn’t know myself. Well, that’s an exaggeration. I knew it was me but I looked better than the person in my mind. In fact, I took a snapshot to remind me of how far I’ve come, just in case I forget.

It made me think about the way others perceive us compared to how we perceive ourselves. You tell me I look nice, I assume you’re being kind or simply lying.

I know people who are smart, talented and attractive. I wonder if they know or if they’re walking around in a weird bubble of ignorance like myself. Do they know how great they are? We regard self perception as reality but what happens when self perception and reality don’t meet? And how do we make them meet?

I’ve been told that I ask a lot of BIG questions. I suppose these are just another in a long line. All I know for sure is that life is too short to be filled with so much self doubt. Take the compliment and maybe someday your brain will catch up and figure out what everyone else knows.

 

That’s Not On The Whole 30

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I really enjoy the food available to me on the Whole 30. It’s basically clean eating meant to change your relationship with food. It’s about eating lots of fresh produce, fish and healthy fats that are tasty and filling. With that said, I’m on day twenty-something of my second round since May and am suddenly dying for pancakes.

I had this order of french toast while on a weekend trip last month and I’m trying hard to hold on to one memory while I stave off this craving.

This plate of french toast that sounded so good, this french toast that I looked forward to ordering – didn’t taste very good.

My tastes have changed enough that I was happier with the bowl of fruit and eggs than with the buttery, syrupy goodness of that food I once loved.

Progress. I’m calling this progress.

So as I sit here craving pancakes and syrup, I’ll hold on to this memory a little longer. It’s not worth it because it won’t taste as good as I think it should.

Whole 30: Day 11

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It’s day eleven of my second round of the Whole 30. I’m more than a third of the way through and feeling pretty good. My mind is clear and my body feels strong. I’m rarely hungry between meals and am learning to better cope with the rare cravings for sweets.

This week my workplace has felt like a landmine for food. Upstairs we celebrated June birthdays with snacks that everyone carried in. Then there were donuts in the lunchroom and the usual candy baskets and snacks for purchase. I have navigated it all like a pro, not even feeling tempted to join in.

Don’t be too impressed – life is easier when I have rules. That’s all. I know junk food is against the rules and that any slips will cause me to return to day one. It’s much easier to look at something and say “that’s not for me” than it is to make a quick decision to eat or not to eat.

I respond well to rules. Since the Whole 30 has a lot of rules, I function pretty well when I’m on round!

Whole 30 Update

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Whole30-Timeline-COLOR-SmallerThis is my second round of the Whole 30 and I’m on Day 8. I marvel at how quickly the time passes on the Whole 30 and at how much better I feel when eating real food. I really do seem to have more stamina and energy and simply feel better.

My meals are pretty basic and often repetitive but I’m good with that because I like the foods I’m eating. It’s a lot of roasted vegetables, eggs, fish and shrimp. Most of it is prepared in olive oil. I drink a ton of water and there are no desserts or sweet treats to speak of.

It may sound restrictive but it’s actually extremely freeing to have fewer decisions to make and to know that what I’m eating is what I have to eat. I can’t wimp out on a Thursday night and decide to pick up pizza instead of coming home to cook. I know that I can’t have a cookie because it’s not on the list. That would break the rules and I would be required to go back to the beginning. I don’t want to start over again even for a cookie. However, if I thought for a minute I could have a cookie, I would. And then maybe another!

My mother thinks I don’t eat real food and a few weeks ago my Kroger cart, full of fresh produce and fish, was judged by some woman with a cartful of frozen pizzas and chips. I try not to judge others but it was sort of hard as she stood there glaring at my pile of sweet potatoes.

But that’s ok. The world doesn’t need to approve. I feel good and am becoming stronger and healthier each day. Their approval isn’t required for me to make a positive change in my life.