Last day, people! I have a wide range of thoughts on Whole30 that I will share later this week, but today is about the food highlights from week 4.
Whole30 Week 4
Breakfast
I won’t bombard you with too many pictures of variations of the same breakfast. The vegetable(s) change but the sweet potatoes and egg don’t.
Lunch
Salads…surprise. I put my beet cauliflower rice on top of salads this week. That color steals the freaking show.
Dinner
Two dinners out, one (bad) picture of proof. This was ahi tuna with an avocado and mango salad.
This was a good one…pork chops with a roasted red pepper sauce, fried plantains and roasted root vegetables. I forget how much I love pork chops. Not sure if I made the plantains correctly. They tasted more like cardboard than anything. I prefer carbs in the form of potatoes.
Balsamic glazed grilled chicken, salad and vegetables
My weekly salmon and zoodles
Salmon, broccolini and a white sweet potato
Snacks
This cashew butter + every fruit and vegetable possible.
How I’m Feeling
-Still no stomach pain, which was the main reason for doing the program in the first place.
-I did have about two days of bad bloating and indigestion but I’m 90% sure it was from overeating almond butter. It cleared up and I’m back to normal. I’m not kidding when I say I don’t eat nut butter in moderation…
-The thirst continues! Apparently this is a thing for other people on Whole30 because I Googled it and a forum popped up with comments from other participants. My mom has been extremely thirsty too and we kept blaming it on the weather (I said that last week) but after a month of thirst we knew it had to be something else. It’s not necessarily a bad thing just kind of annoying. We still aren’t sure what the main cause is (too many vegetables? Not enough of a certain food?) but again, not a huge deal.
-Eating out isn’t impossible, but it isn’t a breeze. I’m used to having restrictions because of celiac but it’s not fun to have a laundry list of “requirements.”
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Great job this week as always :) Your food is always so colorful and delicious looking! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Enjoy the final day!
Gretchen recently posted…Gettysburg Marathon Training : Week 5
I loved your recap, Gretchen! So many similar thoughts. Especially what you said about not making it a big deal.
Thirsty? That is so interesting and random. I wonder what causes it?
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…SoulCycle x Target, Blends, and Blog Inspiration Weekend
I’m not too sure (the science is way above me) but I think it has something to do with Ketosis, even though I don’t feel like I’m eating low carb. That, or not enough sodium?
I think the thirst is from losing large percentages of water and some of the glycogen stores in your muscles (you lose water first from weight loss), since there is probably a smaller overall percentage of carbohydrates ingested! I love the bright variety of colors :)
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…Superbowl 4 Miler Race Recap + a giveaway!
Thanks for explaining that, Sarah! I definitely don’t feel like I was/am eating low-carb, but I guess overall it’s a decrease.
Now that I look back on it, I was definitely insanely thirsty after my first one. I have no idea why, but it’s got to be from the lack or addition of something. I’m sad you didn’t like your plantain! I like them way over ripe so that they are soft and almost slimey when you cut them so they taste like dessert when you likely fry them in coconut oil in stead of them tasting like cardboard or potatoes!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…Paleo Valentines Day Recipe Round Up
I don’t remember if they were ripe or overripe now that I think about it. I think if I added more cinnamon and maybe some nut butter I would like it as a dessert-like snack!
Ok all of these meals are absolutely gorg and I would enjoy them even not on Whole30. Kudos to you for sticking with it the whole way through!! Now lets go for some cocktails :) haha
Christina recently posted…Behind the Scenes: What It Takes to Make a Recipe Go Live
Um yes please! Cine Bistro?!
These pictures make me want to whip up a sweet potato right now! They look so good with your breakfasts! I can’t believe you are almost done already! I feel ya on the nut butter in moderation thing- I ate way too much peanut butter for a run on Saturday and it was not too fun haha.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…My 5 Healthy Kitchen Essentials
It’s a daily struggle with the nut butter. It’s just so damn good!
There are so many colors in all of those plates. Great work!
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…Strawberry Crumble Breakfast Muffin
Eating the rainbow for sure! Thanks, Jenn!
I feel like I say this every week but I’m so happy for you that you’ve finally found some relief from your stomach pains and I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the program as a whole! I can imagine eating out would be tough but I already always make 10000 substitutions thanks to my picky eating so it probably wouldn’t even seem that extreme to me ha
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…TOL: Catching Up
I was already used to being “annoying” because of celiac so ordering at restaurants wasn’t too different than normal for me! But for my mom who doesn’t have restrictions, it was a change.
You did it! Your meals look colorful and very balanced! Hooray :)
Molly recently posted…Vegan Turmeric & Coconut Milk Vegetable Bowl
Thanks, Molly! It feels good to have made it the entire way.
The thirst is weird! Haha but I guess…it will keep you hydrated!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Peanut Butter Espresso Banana Bread
That’s what I’m thinking! It could be worse.
Interesting that you experienced the bloating/pain from almond butter. After 2 weeks and change on my elimination with no stomach aches (also my reason!) I had a really bad couple of days, and I realized it could be from the 2 jars of sunflower/PB I’m getting through a week especially without my normal greek yogurt and other go to snacks.
I’ve always had a small issue with bloating/pain from too much nut butter. I call it my “peanut (or nut) butter stomach ache” because I tend to go overboard sometimes. When I vary my snacks I have no issue!
I”m glad I’m not the only person that eats sweet potatoes every single day haha. I love them so much. I try not to eat out during the week, but by the time Friday and Saturday roll around I get bored of cooking and just like the excitement of going out to a restaurant.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…A trip to St. Louis
Every. single. day. I love them too! Weekends are normally when I eat out too.
Ok I’m obsessed with this post. Love new Whole30 meal ideas!! That plantain – OMG. I’ve never thought to add it as a side dish. Brilliant and totally copying!
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Dairy-Free Frozen Hot Chocolate
It was my mom’s idea to have it with dinner! I want to try making it again because I know people love them.
I feel like eating out can be a breeze if you choose the right kind of restaurant. I mean if you go to Five Guys or other burger places it would be kind of hard but it seems like you went to a great place considering you were able to get some delicious ahi tuna and a tasty salad. i definitely think that asian/thai places have the best healthy options for whole 30.
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Gluten-free Roasted Strawberry and Toasted Coconut Scones
I completely agree. The quality of the restaurant makes a huge difference! I also went to a seafood restaurant (twice during Whole30) and didn’t have any issues.
Try cutting plantains into thin discs and frying them in coconut oil with sea salt!! I love them like that but find that if they’re not cooked enough, they can taste rather cardboard-ish. Awesome job sticking through the full four weeks! I can’t wait to hear what you thought of it overall!
Sami recently posted…Marathon Training Recap Week 10
THANK YOU for this! I think I did 5 minutes of cooking? Can’t quite remember.
I eat out once a week…AMEN to pork chops and not eating nut butters in moderation! I love pork chops and think they are seriously underrated. I actually like to buy mine with the bone in. They have so much flavor and are very versatile when it comes to seasoning them!
Pork chops and chicken thighs are the most underrated cuts of meat in my opinion. And SO freaking delicious.
So glad your stomach is doing what you hoped it would!!!! I actually find when I eat too much note butter I have some digestive issues…annoying since I prefer to be able to eat like a jar a day (kidding, kind of).
Hayley recently posted…Currently // February 2016
and by note butter I mean NUT butter. duh
Hayley recently posted…Currently // February 2016
I would understand nut butter in any language ;) Why isn’t the serving size a full jar?! I go through so many a week it’s crazy.
Way to stick this out till the end girl! You’re gonna finish strong and then bring us that delicious banana bread recipe! LOL :)
I made some more yesterday! Almost ready to share :)
You make whole30 look easy girl! Well, minus the eating out thing. Im gluten-free as well so that is hard enough, but adding more restrictions would probably put my hubby through the roof. Poor guy lol
Kat recently posted…Paleo Chocolate Orange Muffins
Oh I can relate! My dad was annoyed with the extra restrictions at first but came to defend my mom and me at the end.
I would like to go out to eat at your restaurant every night! Haha, your meals look awesome. I probably go out to eat one night a week. I prefer cooking myself, plus I’m on that college girl budget ;)
sarah recently posted…You Know You’re Adulting When…
Haha thanks, Sarah :) I prefer cooking for myself too. Plus I can go back for seconds!