October Whole 30 for Paleo/Primal Support Peeps

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September brought our first Whole 30 challenge, thanks to Grokette. I'd like to do it again now that I have learned from the obstacles I overcame in September. Anyone game?

Here's the 411 - we'll post our successes, experiences and questions here. Recipes are great. We'll lament our 'oops-es' elsewhere (our food diary notes or wall). No one need do this perfectly. This is about progress in choosing healthier fuel sources and in living our best lives.

[Note on dairy: If it makes you sick, don't do it. If raw dairy is your religion, continue guilt free but understand one person's medicine is another person's poison. I do dairy to my health but would quit it in a heartbeat if it failed to improve my chances of living my dreams.]

And here we go...
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Replies

  • ResilientWoman
    ResilientWoman Posts: 440 Member
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    I'll use my weight from the doctor's office (Sept. 29 - 248.0) and measurements from my coach (Oct 4) for my starting stats. Will not get on the scale until Oct. 31/Nov 1. Will have coach remeasure on Nov. 1, our regular training day and will weigh in on scale at doctor's office on the same morning. In between now and then, no scale. The home scale is being put away so I can focus on how my body feels.

    I have increased my chances of actually doing the Whole 30 by paying attention to lifestyle issues that affected last month's attempt.

    Starting today off with uncured bacon & eggs. Dinner will be grass fed beef burgers with mustard and Rocksalmic Vinegar (like Basalmic Vinegar but made from local apples). There may be curried cauliflower, if I have time.
  • CavewomanCoby
    CavewomanCoby Posts: 253 Member
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    I'm in for sure! Great idea as a support group. Am out and about right now but when I get home I'll post a little about myself :)
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
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    I'm in.. I need to continue on this path.
  • justamyagain
    justamyagain Posts: 154 Member
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    I'm still very new to this lifestyle, but I am in.
  • MUDDERinTRAINING
    MUDDERinTRAINING Posts: 14 Member
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    Count me in, as well! Our family started eating modified (read-cheater) paleo about a month ago after my son was diagnosed with several food sensitivities. I'm having a really difficult time getting into the spirit of it, though. I have one heck of a sugar addiction that I need to break. I've been bingeing on sweets at work to avoid tempting my wee ones with it at home. It makes me feel like a total a** to limit my kids and not place those same limits on myself. Sooo, I WILL make October my detox month! I am committed to making myself and my family healthier!!!

    Seeing as I'm new to the lifestyle, I'm rather inept at it. I spent an exorbitant amount of money on groceries this past month (~$1100 for a family of 4...kids are 11 and 4), and it seems like I've been living in the kitchen with all of the prep/cooktime involved. I'm hoping that some of you will be willing to share a few magic tricks to cut costs and time. :)

    -Cavewomancoby: Which Tough Mudder event did you participate in? I completed NorCal last month. Holy awesomeness! Can't wait to do it again next year!

    Stacy
  • TheGlen
    TheGlen Posts: 242 Member
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    I'm in. We are still transitioning to the lifestyle (some days are better than others).

    Tonight we found a burger place that grinds their own, all local, grass fed beef, in-house daily. One person did look at us sort of funny when we ordered without buns (but it tasted great).

    Unfortunately, the only exercise I completed today was moving new furniture from the car to the house (I'm going to enter it anyway though). :)

    Good luck everyone.
  • iluv2travel
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    Hi everyone, i'd like to join in on this support group. I am very new to Paleo/Primal and started testing the waters last week after my doctor advised me to cut down on carbs to help with my frequent headaches and migraines. Having MFP as my food diary helps since I realized i've been unknowingly consuming about 200g of carbs a day (yikes) since I was more focused on calories alone.

    I went grocery shopping today, grabbed some cauliflowers, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, avocado, limes, nectarines, plums, apples, peaches and ground beef for next week's menu. I like the taste of grass fed beef and I don't know if Whole foods is the best place to get it but I may scout around in my area to see if there's a local butcher that offers grass fed beef.

    Jenny =)
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
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    I'm in the best I can be. This sugar addiction has gotten the better of me. My weight has gone up fast and my gut is inflamed - although the NOW Super enzymes and probiotics have done wonders for moving things along - better than any amount of fiber.

    Back on track with a trip to the grocery store for some meat and veggies!! And hopefully some beef bones for some beef broth!

    Going to do my best to fast today. Need to give my gut a rest from all the crap.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
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    I am in.
  • StephieWillcox
    StephieWillcox Posts: 627 Member
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    Hi guys - I am literally JUST starting the Primal way of life - just finished the Primal Blueprint book and have returned from the supermarket with many organic fruits, veggies and meats.

    At the moment I get really bad migraines and menstrual pains and would love for that to be GONE from my life. My hubby-to-be is on board (at least with breakfast and dinner, not sure how he'll deal with the salads at lunch - but he can cheat on his own) so I'm hoping we can make this change properly.

    We've already cut out nearly everything processed, so now it's just cutting out the whole grains that we need to work on. I've just changed my % carbs/protein/fat to be in line with under 100g carbs, 92g protein (in line with 0.7 * my lean body mass), and the rest fat to get up to my daily cal target of 1200 - I'm guessing I may go over this, but hopefully not over the carbs!!!

    I'm excited about my body feeling good and working with me to lose this weight!!!

    Steph
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
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    Bumping to join the thread to offer support.
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
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    I'm not sure how "Paleo" I'm being, but we decided to do a wheat free October after reading Wheat Belly. We already don't use sugar and now have cut out all of the wheat, cornstarch, grains, etc. I was trying it off and on the week before to get myself used to the idea, and yesterday was in a fair amount of pain from going way overboard on the 30th with pasta, cookie ice cream sundae, etc.

    I'd love to try the challenge for this month. This morning we had fried eggs in butter, half an orange and 1oz of cheese each. We've got steak for dinner and will be having a romaine lettuce salad with olive oil/vinegarette dressing (didn't realize my salad dressings had wheat in them!) and likely either cauliflower or broccoli. Had homemade oven cooked sweet potato fries last night, so I'll lay off the starchy veggies/brown rice for another day or two. Might do some cheese, fruit & almonds for in between. Not really hungry enough for lunch. I love not having to force myself to eat because it's been 2-3 hours!

    I do weigh myself regularly and am not willing to give that up. I'm not really trying to lose weight, but just get my belly as flat as possible. It's 30" right now because it's still taking a few days to get over the Friday PM wheat binge, but is usually 29" (hope it'll be that soon so I can fit in my dress pants for work!!)
  • msbanana
    msbanana Posts: 793 Member
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    You know I'm in! :) I have moved to a more maintenance style calorie intake and have found challenges eating enough to fill my calorie goals. I have found a paleo friendly egg white protien powder (lactose, whey and soy free) that is AMAZING mixed with almond milk and frozen fruit that has really helped add some calories without feeling like I was cramming my face full of unwanted food. I'm finally making gains again in my lifting. I'll hop on the scale today at the gym and see where I'm at and take some measurements. Right now my goal is more fat loss and strength and speed gains than weight loss so expect excited posts about big PRs this month! :)

    Cheers to all my mudders and paleo/primal friends!!

    Anna
  • msbanana
    msbanana Posts: 793 Member
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    Oh and I have a great fall recipe to share. I just did this the other day and it was awesome.

    Stuffed mini pumpkins

    4 mini pumpkins
    1 pound ground chicken sausage (spicy- I bought plain and spiced the bejeebus out of it)
    Raw Maple syrup
    1 yellow onion diced
    10 mushrooms diced
    1 sweet potato cubed

    Pre-heat the oven to 350* F
    Cut the tops off the pumpkins jack-o-lantern style and scoop out the guts. (set aside- you can toast the seeds later)
    Place the pumpkins in a baking dish with a 1/4 inch of water in the bottom.
    About 1/4 full of Maple Syrup cover the dish with foil and place in the oven.

    On the stove top sauté the onions and mushrooms when the onions are clear add the chicken sausage when the chicken's almost done add the sweet potato. Sauté until the sweet potato is soft.

    About this time the pumpkins should be done ( the pumpkin meat should be soft).
    Remove the from the oven and turn the oven to broil.

    Pour the syrup from 1.5 pumpkins into the sausage mix discard the rest or save it for your pumpkin seeds. Turn the heat
    In the oven to broil.
    Deglaze the syrup in the meat mix. When it has thickened stuff the pumpkins with mix and place them under the broiler to brown the tops.

    Serve with a big green salad and enjoy! They're amazing! :)
  • livraynesmom
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    I'm game! I've been on primal since 20 Sep & am a believer!
  • ResilientWoman
    ResilientWoman Posts: 440 Member
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    So excited to have over a dozen of us! I'm gonna get fresh measurements on Tuesday and post them. That gives all of you 48 hours to post what weight, inches, strength, speed, distsance, etc. starting metrics you like. Anything you can measure and then remeasure at the end of October.

    Thanks to Anna for reminding us that there are many kinds of health improvements we can measure, not just pounds shed. I would personally like to report inches shed from my waist at the end of the month, especially a healthier waist to hip ratio, as well as increased strength PRs with my Kettlebell lifting.

    Today, having lots of herbal preparations that I don't usually require, otherwise, it was an on plan day! Bacon, eggs and grass fed beef with a Basalmic-style ACV plus mustard reduction from deglazing pan. Yummy!
  • msbanana
    msbanana Posts: 793 Member
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    So besides being bloated from the BBQ pig out last night I have some good starting point numbers to share!

    Height: 5'9.75" (figure that's not going to change) ;)
    Weight: 170.2 lbs (won't be talking about this again unless I hit 165lbs which is possible but not an actual goal)
    Measurements:
    Bust: 39 in
    Waist: 30.5 in (woop woop down an inch since this time last month!)
    Hips: 40.5 in (I swear these mf-ers just won't die.)
    Right thigh: 21.5 in
    Right calf: 15.5
    Right bicep: 12.25
    PRs:
    Barbell bench press: 135lbs (3 sets of 8)
    Dead lift: 185lbs (3 sets of 6)
    Squat: 225lbs (3 sets of 8) today!!! :)
    Speed:
    1 mile: 7:45
    5K: 27:56
    12K: 67:34

    Here's to a kick *kitten* October! :)

    PS. Today was a weird food day as I met up with family from out of town for an early dinner and someone gave me gf chocolate cake. I ate it. Consider this my non paleo splurge day this month... Totally over it! :)
  • msbanana
    msbanana Posts: 793 Member
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    Oops! Double post!
  • TheGlen
    TheGlen Posts: 242 Member
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    We've been moving towards the paleo/primal lifestyle for a little over a month now (still not perfect, but I try to make better decisions every day). I've seen some good results so far, and I can't wait to see how this month goes.

    Here are my end of September stats:

    Height: 5'10"
    Weight: 229.5lbs
    Neck: 17.25"
    Waist: 44"
    5K: 38:57
  • Donna808Mauka
    Donna808Mauka Posts: 1 Member
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    I'm game!