Whole 30: Round Five Results

Another round has come and gone on my Whole 30 journey.

While each round presents a new list of challenges and achievements, this one was particularly testing. During these thirty days, I was faced with a trip to Auburn for A-Day, tornadoes, a less than twenty-four hour work trip to Chicago, and my daughter's T&A surgery complete with a slumber party in the hospital for the night. Needless to say, it would have been very easy to fall off the wagon. 

But I didn't. 

I'm not sure how or why I didn't, but I somehow managed to remain strong. The biggest challenge was traveling out of town for work. Thankfully, my coworker was understanding and I was able to chow down on fruit and nuts as needed. I'm just glad it was a short trip!

Let's discuss what everyone wants to know...the results. 

For this round I did something different. I purchased a body composition scale prior to starting (our old scale was having issues) and decided to take before and after measurements using my new toy. Please note, that I am not obsessed with the scale so not weighing myself during the round was very easy for me. Also note, that I had been working out for a few months, but due to the craziness of my schedule I couldn't go to the gym for the last two weeks of this round. 

The Balance High Accuracy Body Fat Scale measures six metrics such as weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, hydration, and bone density. You can set up an individual profile with your gender and height to assist the scale with its computations. 

After round five of Whole 30 my stats changed as follows:

• Weight: -9 lbs. 
• BMI: -1.6%
• Body Fat: +7.4% 
• Muscle: -8.9%
• Water: -7.7%
• Bone Density: No change

NSV:

• No post-lunch fog
• Clearer skin (although I did break out near the end)
• Better sleep, BUT I did start taking my sleeping aid again (due to the added stress near the end)
• More energy

Initially, I was very happy because I lost 9 lbs. I also decreased my BMI, which I thought was good. However, out of the 9 lbs. lost it appears that 8.9 of that number was muscle that disappeared and that is disheartening. Equally disgusting was the increase in body fat. Sigh.

I know that I wasn't able to maintain my workout schedule and that will be changing starting this week - assuming things calm down in the planner. I wasn't as concerned about the water since that will increase again and was relieved that bone density showed no change. 

What now?

The plan moving forward is to keep to Whole 30 during the week and as much as possible on the weekend until vacation. I may jump on the scale before vacation to see how I'm adjusting. Following vacation, I will probably attempt another round to see how my body composition is using the same metrics. 

My clothes are looser and I noticed a difference so I absolutely do not think this last round was a bust. I do wish that I had used the same metrics in my previous rounds. 

Don't forget, I've written a few Whole 30 related posts for you:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Four

Whole 30: Round Two, Three, and Four Results

If you're interested in trying this, I highly suggest reading It Starts With Food, The founder of Whole 30 talks about all the nitty gritty details behind this plan and why clean eating is ideal for your health. 

For all you Whole 30ers, I'm curious - has anyone else had strange results like this? It really makes me regret not measuring these different aspects sooner. 

*Linking up with Lindsay's Sweet World 

**This post may contain affiliate links

Whole 30 Round Two, Three, & Four Results

Once upon a time, after reading It Starts With Food, I ventured into the world of Whole 30.

Since then, I have completed four rounds and am currently (although today is day 30) on my fifth round. Throughout this journey, I have published numerous posts about this topic and shared my experiences, tips, and meal plans to help anyone who is considering or currently part of this adventure. You can find all Whole 30 related posts if you read all the way to the end.

Many people will tell you, especially the strict Whole 30 followers, that losing weight is not a goal of this program in ANY shape, way, or form...and they are right. However, eating clean typically will result in weight loss plus many other NSV (non-scale victories). Somehow during all of my Whole 30 posts, I only included results from round one. That changes today.

Round Two Results

• No headaches/withdrawal symptoms (although I did have achy teeth)
• Decided to extend two weeks
• Deeper sleep
• More energy
• -10 lbs. 
• Stomach: -3 inches
• Thigh: -1.5 inches

Round Three Results

• Deeper sleep
• More energy 
• Clearer skin
• -10.5 lbs. 
• Stomach -3 inches

Round Four Results

• Clearer skin
• More energy
• Clear thinking
• -4 lbs.
• Stomach: -2 inches
• Thigh: -.5 inches

Because my last round was only so-so, I embarked on round five soon after. With numerous projects going on at work, personal issues, and trying to balance this and more as a full-time working mother, having control in this area seemed like a necessity. This proved to be very challenging with activities scheduled like A-Day, surprise doctor visits for weird rashes and surgery for my daughter, However, I was able to remain compliant provided I stick to a clean dinner tonight. Woo hoo!

If you want to read more, please feel free to peruse the posts below:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Four

Please feel free to return to this site to read my Whole 30 round five results. I promise they won't be as late as the past ones were!

*Linking up with Lindsay's Sweet World 

**This post may contain affiliate links

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Four

Whew! I'm finally finished with my final week of Whole 30!

In all honesty, the more rounds I accomplish, the easier it is to cook and eat out while participating in a Whole 30 round. Stay turned as I will be sharing some tips for eating out, places to eat, and a resource to make your Whole 30 experience as easy and organized as possible.

Since I finished my round a few days ago, I did try a few things off plan this weekend. On Friday, I was finally able to get my hair done. This appointment was so overdue that it wasn't even funny. My roots were screaming for some bleach!  I decided to stop by Starbucks on the way to the hair salon for a Caramel Macchiato. It was very sugary - typically I ask for half the amount of syrup/flavor, but forgot as I was in a hurry. Oh well. My hair drank more bleach than normal in anticipation of the warmer weather ahead and I came home a happy girl!

On Saturday morning I woke up and met a friend for some target practice at the gun range. I have learned that I have a weak (or weird) grip that causes my gun to sometimes jam so it looks like private classes are in my near future.

Following the shooting range we talked ourselves into a much needed trip to the gym and I came home to give J a break and hang out with E for a while. The night ended with a dinner at one of the delicious eateries downtown with a few of my lady friends from the neighborhood.

Appetizers were ordered, cocktails consumed, dinners devoured and two desserts may have popped up on our table. All of which inspired this Boomerang.

My mommy friend G and I were laughing since we apparently dressed alike for dinner. In case you would also like to dress as a mom on your night out, grab a pair of skinny jeans, a black shirt, and a fun long necklace. #momming

Sunday involved church, visiting family, chores and a volunteer dinner at church. Low key as always.

Enough about the weekend, let's talk about what you came here for - a meal plan. For the final week of Whole 30, I kept it simple with a few of my favorite recipes.

Whole 30 Week Two	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday	Coffee with NutPods Creamer Aidells Chicken & Apple Sausage Apple w/Almond Butter Roasted Veggies	BBQ Salmon Nuts Green Beans/Mushrooms Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette	Grilled Steak Baked BBQ Salmon Dijon Mustard Green Beans
Tuesday			Cracklin Chicken Peaches Roasted Broccoli
Wednesday			Leftover Steak Dijon Mustard Green Beans
Thursday			Grilled Pork Chops Roasted Brussels Sprouts Peaches
Friday		Chipotle	Leftover Cracklin Chicken Side Salad w/Peaches, Peppers, Celery & Carrots
Saturday	Eggs Veggies Bacon Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Large Salad with Leftover Cracklin Chicken	Sheet Pan Fajitas w/Salsa
Sunday	Leftover Sausage Veggies Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Leftover Sheet Pan Fajitas w/Salsa	Grilled Chicken Baked Potato Side Salad

Keep in mind that I make modifications to each recipe to ensure it is 100% compliant with Whole 30. For a list of all things Whole 30, feel free to browse some of these posts:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

Finally, happy Presidents' Day! For the first time since I've been with my company, we have today off. I'm taking advantage of having a day to myself by working out, folding laundry, grocery shopping, meal planning, making some decisions for the HOA and catching up on my beloved TV shows.

I hope you have an equally productive and entertaining Monday!

*This post may contain affiliate links. 
**Linking up with B Loved Boston, A Little Bit of Everything & Lindsay's Sweet World

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

I cannot believe the weekend is over. Sometimes I really believe that a small part of me becomes depressed when I start getting my household ready for Monday.

This weekend went by far too quickly. Friday was low key so I was able to catch up on some of my shows from Bravo. My sweet husband woke up with E and took her on adventures (a.k.a.breakfast from Chick-fil-a and window shopping at Sears) while I relaxed in bed, cooked a delicious breakfast and caught up on Grey's Anatomy. E and I traveled to the park for a playdate and three mile run while my husband was busy bringing home his new toy, a '67 Mustang.

On Sunday morning we went to church and then took a field trip to the ER - yes, THAT ER. During service, J started having excruciating pain that mimicked a gallbladder attack. The funny thing is, he doesn't have a gallbladder. After chugging a GI cocktail and waiting multiple hours to receive his lab results, he felt better and we were given the all clear. Shout out to my fantastic neighbor who watched E for a few hours! Needless to say, our Sunday afternoon was spent scrambling around the house trying to get things done.

One of the items I HAD to do once the hospital released us was head to the grocery store. If I don't get groceries for the week, then I set myself up for failure on the eating healthy plan. This is particularly important as I am on my last week of Whole 30! Technically Valentine's Day is my day thirty, but I may continue on for a couple of days. Aside from grocery shopping, the most important thing I do to aid in a successful Whole 30 round is meal plan. Since I've shared my first two weeks of meals with you, I couldn't hold back my plan for week three, but will admit it's pretty boring.

Whole 30 Week Two	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday	Coffee with NutPods Creamer Aidells Chicken & Apple Sausage Apple w/Almond Butter Roasted Veggies/Mashed Potatoes	Chicken Salad Veggies Nuts	Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Broccoli
Tuesday			Leftover Instant Pot BBQ Ribs Veggies
Wednesday			Grilled Steak Green Beans
Thursday			Leftovers
Friday		Leftover Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Roasted Broccoli Nuts	Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Roasted Squash
Saturday	Eggs Veggies Bacon Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Leftover Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Roasted Squash	Wendy's
Sunday	Leftover Pork Chop Brussels Sprouts Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Chipotle	Grilled Steak Dijon Mustard Green Beans

Keep in mind that I make modifications to each recipe to ensure it is 100% compliant with Whole 30. For a list of all things Whole 30, feel free to browse some of these posts:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

And here's to hoping for a super quick work week!

*This post may contain affiliate links. 

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Nothing compares to a Monday....Especially the Monday after the Super Bowl....Particularly after a game that went into overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history.

Are you as tired as I am? #RISEUPANYWAY

While my heart broke for the Atlanta Falcons, I was so excited and thrilled with Lady Gaga's halftime performance. She is a tremendous entertainer and has a set of pipes to back it up. A few years ago when we were stationed in Texas, I had the pleasure of seeing her live in concert. You can reminisce with me and read all about it here.  

Although I am on day twenty something into my fourth round of Whole 30, I'm finally going to share my meal plan for week two. This should have been posted last week, but I decided to provide a few guilt-free, Whole 30 snack ideas since the big game was coming up. Plus, I used that post to share my most favorite Super Bowl halftime performance of ALL time.

Now that the big event is behind us, let's focus on our weekly meal plan.

Keep in mind that I make modifications to each recipe to ensure it is 100% compliant with Whole 30. For a list of all things Whole 30, feel free to browse some of these posts:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

And without further delay, here is a peek at my meal plan for week two complete:

Whole 30 Week Two	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday	Coffee with NutPods Creamer Aidells Chicken & Apple Sausage Apple w/Almond Butter Roasted Veggies/Mashed Potatoes	Chicken Salad Roasted Broccoli/Celery with Ranch Dressing	Shrimp & Asparagus Stir Fry
Tuesday			Instant Pot Chicken Wings Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Wednesday			Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup with Avocado
Thursday			Wendy's
Friday		Leftover Steak Roasted Broccoli Nuts	Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Guacamole Broccoli
Saturday	Kale & Onion Omelet Bacon Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Chipotle	Grilled Pork Chops Brussels Sprout Chips
Sunday	Leftover Pork Chop Brussels Sprouts Coffee with NutPods Creamer	Leftover Salsa Chicken in a Lettuce Wrap with Avocado	Instant Pot BBQ Ribs Roasted Broccoli Twice Baked Potatoes
*This post may contain   affiliate links.

Whole 30 Buffalo Chicken Dip

Fixings

• 1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Original Sauce
• Plain cream cheese from Kite Hill,
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing (Whole 30ers - you will need to use a compliant ranch. I use my homemade mayo and follow this ranch recipe)
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
• Celery and/or carrots for serving

Fix It

1. Mix all ingredients (except for the veggies) in a baking dish. 
2. Cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  

Whole 30 Jalapeno Poppers

Fixings

• 6-10 Jalapenos
• Plain cream cheese from Kite Hill,
• Compliant bacon (I buy the Maverick brand from Publix)

Fix It

1. Wash & cut the jalapenos lengthwise. Deseed the peppers accordingly (I wear gloves when doing this ever since my sister cut jalapenos and even after washing her hands, tried to change her contacts. Three days and a milk wash later, she lived.)
2. Spread cream cheese on each pepper. 
3. Wrap in bacon (I cut each strip in half). 
4. Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and cook for fifteen - twenty minutes at 400 degrees. 

Guilt-Free Super Bowl Snacks

Starting in high school, I developed a love for Super Bowl weekend - primarily because I was paid extra to babysit during the game or I actually went to a party. I vividly remember hanging out at my BFF Perry’s house (P.S. we are still besties) during one of the games when I witnessed the absolute best halftime performance of ALL times! Does 2011 ring a bell?

I mean – JT shoots sparks from his hands AND my girl Britney (or as I called her "Baby Britney" as this video makes me feel old) makes an appearance, what’s not to love?!

While I doubt any game can replace that memory, which is totally engraved in my heart FOREVER, this year’s game is pretty special to our household. Being from Atlanta and living in the wonderful state of Georgia, our home team the Atlanta Falcons are making a long overdue appearance in the championship game this year. Even though I typically cheer for certain players in the NFL, I am a supporter of the Falcons since my husband has been a lifelong fan. In fact, one of our memories from this last year included a date to the Falcons v. Panthers game. Needless to say, we are thrilled to watch them compete this Sunday!

In preparation for the big game, I wanted to share a few healthy snacks that you can chow down on (and serve) guilt free. I threw these together when my husband decided to invite people over to watch the playoffs and it happened to be during my first week on Whole 30. :insert cranky face emoji here:

Fruit Salad

Homemade Guacamole for Veggies

Veggie Tray with Salsa

Buffalo Chicken Dip with Carrots & Celery

Jalapeno Poppers

The Buffalo Chicken Dip and Jalapeno Poppers were made with cream cheese from Kite Hill, which is Whole 30 approved. However, you can only purchase this from Whole Foods. Since we don't have one here, I stocked up on a few the last time we were in Atlanta and am so glad I was able to use these for this occasion. I plan on making another batch of poppers on Sunday! If I can think of any other compliant recipes that use cream cheese, I'll be sure to attempt them this weekend as well.

There you have it. My Whole 30 meal plan for week two will be posted next week since Super Bowl snacks clearly take priority! If you have a favorite football dish to share, please leave a link in the comments so I can check it out. And, if you feel so inclined, drop a comment with your pick for the Super Bowl LI!

Here's to a hopefully awesome game for our Falcons - RISE UP!