The end of Whole30 is so close! Today is Day 27 and in this post I’ll be sharing a recap of days 21-25 with you. Just one more recap and my final thoughts post left to go.
I spent most of days 21-25 in Florida with my family. Luckily, they keep a very stocked fridge and pantry so minus a few things like coconut milk and almond butter, I had what I needed to continue following the program. I mentioned this in a previous post but I am so thankful that my parents were really supportive and understanding of my Whole30. Just wait until you read about trying to find lunch on day 24!
Let’s get into the recap and I’ll follow it up with how I’m feeling. My last two recaps (21-25 and 26-30) will cover 5 days instead of the 4 I was doing in previous posts so that we can get this wrapped up!
DAY 21
Chia pudding for breakfast. I know that no one is surprised but hang with me because I did decide to switch up breakfast on days 25-30 so you’ll see some different breakfast options.
Lunch was scrambled eggs with half and avocado, sauteed spinach and tomatoes and salsa. Apple on the side.
Unpictured snack was banana chips dipped in almond butter.
Dinner was pork tenderloin, roasted acorn squash and sweet potatoes and roasted broccoli.
DAY 22
Chia pudding. We stocked up on fresh berries at Sam’s Club and I enjoyed them my whole trip.
Salad with leftover pork tenderloin and roasted squash. Also apples, pecans and roasted tomatoes. Olive oil and balsamic to dress.
Dinner featured more leftover pork tenderloin. Their was a social potluck hosted by the condo association but there was NOTHING there that was Whole30 friendly so I made dinner when I got home. This bowl may not look pretty but it was amazing! I sauteed potatoes with yellow pepper, onion and spinach and then topped it with pork tenderloin and half an avocado mashed with salsa. This combo was so good!
I ate this for an evening snack on days 22-24. Half of an apple chopped and microwaved with raisins and cinnamon for about 90 seconds. Topped with almond butter.
DAY 23
Chia pudding, berries and almond butter.
Another salad but this one with spinach, hard boiled egg, pecans, avocado and sweet potatoes with olive oil and balsamic to dress. Kombucha on the side.
We went out for dinner. I started with a half dozen steamed oysters.
And then had blackened grouper with steamed broccoli and boiled potatoes. Tip: most seafood places have clarified butter so I asked for some on the side and put it on my broccoli with a squeeze of lemon and on my potatoes once I cut them up.
DAY 24
The last chia pudding bowl you will see of my Whole30! (The crowd roars!)
Okay, this is the day of the lunch fiasco. My mom and I went out to go shopping and went in Panera and Zoe’s Kitchen and had to leave both restaurants because they were extremely non-friendly for Whole30. Get this…Panera doesn’t even have an option for oil and vinegar as a salad dressing and their chicken has sugar in it so a plain salad with no chicken and no dressing was pretty much my only option. Every single one of their soups either had sugar, grains or dairy in it. Zoe’s Kitchen wasn’t much better. Their custom “spice of life” seasoning that’s in almost everything had several ingredients off plan including corn starch and sugar. We ended up at a locally owned Italian place where I ordered a salad with romaine, strawberries, mandarin oranges and grilled chicken. They DID have olive oil and balsamic.
I was hungry shortly after eating because I usually load my salads up with avocados and nuts so I grabbed a Larabar while shopping for that night’s dinner. This was my first Larabar of Whole30. Technically, they’re allowed but not encouraged. The thinking is that they’re a substitute for a candy bar/sweet treat and they’re pretty calorie dense. I was out of the house and having a hunger emergency so I didn’t care! 🙂
Dinner was awesome. My mom and I picked up some pretty cod fillets. My dad grilled them and I made a mango/pineapple/avocado salsa to go with them. Baked sweet potato and roasted cauliflower on the side.
DAY 25
And so starts the final streak of no chia pudding. I was listening to my Whole30 book in the car (it helps keep me focused on the plan and the goals…haha) and was reminded that chia seeds are not their favorite choice for everyday eating and neither is starting the day off with a heavy dose of fruit. I don’t regret all of the chia pudding breakfasts that I’ve eaten on Whole30 because it’s what worked for me but I did decide to mix it up for the last few days. This was two scrambled eggs with avocado and sauteed spinach and tomatoes. Mixed fruit on the side.
I didn’t eat breakfast until about 10 a.m. and lunch was late at 3 p.m. when I got home from the airport. I just mashed a sweet potato with some banana and topped it with almond butter. It was perfect.
And dinner was sweet potato chili with a massaged kale salad. My fiance actually did all the shopping and prep for this chili and he stayed on Whole30 while I was gone!
He kept me updated with a steady stream of iPhone photos. Here are a few of his creations…lamb burgers with avocado, salsa and apples, eggplant and seared scallops with roasted parsnips and carrots, veal picatta with roasted potatoes and sunny side up eggs with roasted brussels and potatoes. I joked that he had been holding out on me to which he replied, “I offer to cook but you get a panicked look in your eyes.” Haha…I may or may not be a slight control freak in the kitchen. I come by it honestly.
Speaking of coming by things honestly, today is my dad’s birthday! As I’ve said about a million times before, my dad is to thank for my love of cooking! He continues to inspire me in the kitchen and he’s still my #1 resource even above google for all cooking-related questions.
HOW I’M FEELING
- I slept like a rock star while I was home. I went to bed most nights around 11 and slept through the night and woke up around 7. Getting out of bed was so easy and I didn’t feel tired or groggy at all.
- Making Whole30 food choices is becoming second nature. I don’t really have to overthink anything and it feels easy to prepare food.
- Eating out and watching others enjoy hush puppies (I think a tear rolled down my cheek) and dessert is still a little painful.
- Even more lonely…and then there were three. We started with 23 and I think we’ve dwindled down to three finishers. Hearing my friends talk about cheating on the Whole30 and giving up does kind of mess with me but I have make it way too far to give up now!
- My energy for workouts is good and I also feel relaxed about workouts. I usually run almost every day when I’m home visiting my parents but it was cold and windy so I did yoga, took a rest day and did only one gym workout instead. I have been lifting consistently and that feels awesome.
- Skin update…still having hormonal breakouts but eyes are 100% clear with no itching.
- Digestion is quick and easy.
- Ready for a glass of wine! 😛
Those of you who follow special diets, how do you make good choices when eating out? I feel so guilty asking a million questions!
Fellow Whole30ers, how’s it going? On or off the wagon? What day are you on?
Does your significant other cook when you’re out of town?
I’m Doing My First Whoel30
Recent Eats: My First Whole30 Days 1-4
Recent Eats: My First Whole30 Days 5-8
Recent Eats: My First Whole30 Days 9-12
Recent Eats: My First Whole30 Days 13-16 and Thoughts on a “Perfect” Whole30
Recent Eats: My First Whole30 Days 17-20
