Monday, September 4, 2017

Round 2~ DONE!?!

So I finished Round 2 this past weekend!?!  This is how it was different this time:
-my mom did "The Whole30" w/ me & it's been very helpful, ahhaha.
-I didn't sleep as well on several nights but I think it's because I started school again on Aug. 9 & it's been awfully hot.
-I had NO almond butter.
-I only made smoothies 3x.
-I made an exception on Aug. 19 because I had to go to a wedding (I had made that choice prior to the challenge).
-my snacks everyday @ work were roasted nuts!

Surprisingly, I survived, ahahha.  Good thing I had already mentally trained myself mentally during Round 1 during the summer!  It's definitely manageable during the school year!  When I do it again (in 1 week?  I'll modify it though because of my training for a race...  I just don't know how to modify it yet though), I will have to change up my snacks & perhaps consume less eggs?  I think I had eggs every single day!?!

During this round, at least 5 people said I had lost weight but they said it in such an almost alarming way that I wonder if I look... unhealthy???  I guess the weight loss has been all over my body (I lost 2-3 lbs. this 2nd time around) but I am definitely NOT starving myself, ahahha, I love food way too much!  Plus, I'm training for the Chicago Marathon so I definitely need to EAT!!!

Energy is important when you're running and the best source is through carbohydrates, which contain sugar.  ("Carbs break down to sugars in the body, which provide the energy for your run. The amount of carbs you need depends on the length of your run. If you are low on carbs, the body will break down fat or protein to use as fuel. Unfortunately, this is a very inefficient use of energy and requires the body to work harder than when it uses carbs." - "Women's Running")  The thing w/ "The Whole30" is that the only carbs allowed are with fruits & vegetables.  So, I could get my energy/carbs via potatoes, squash & dates, which are actually low calorie carbs but I think what I'll do is:
-have energy chews on my long run days.  If I don't feel strong enough after this Saturday's run, (18 miles), I'll consume more sugar the night before the run.  It's a big "no-no" for "The Whole30" but whatever.  It's MY way of doing the challenge.  Either way, I'll have to make sure I eat enough after the long run.
-have a Lara Bar before the race instead of bread, just to see how different my stomach would feel during the race?)
-refuel with coconut water after training runs

This month, I made:
Slow cooker coconut & green curry pork (delicious & oh so tender!!!  FYI, pork butt = pork shoulder!?!)

Thai coconut red curry beef meatballs (yummy too; red curry paste is weak, green curry is way hotter!!!)


Beef egg breakfast casserole (I added whatever veggies I had on hand)

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Round 2~ 1/2 way

So far, so good.  No almond butter, no plantain chips.  I made 1 exception so far: one of my former students came to visit today AND brought me my fav' drink from "Starbucks", green tea frapp w/ 2% milk!!!:):)  It made me so happy though it tasted quite sweet, ahaha.

Yesterday, I made slow cooker coconut & green curry pork & it was delicious!



Super easy to make too, loved it.  Apparently, pork butt & pork shoulder are... the same!?!  I will make an exception this Saturday at a friend's wedding & eat... normally?  We'll see.  I feel that "The Whole30" is going by so slow this time around!?!  I'm not suffering or anything, just an observation, ahaha.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Various excellent articles (random)

Michael Phelps

Excellent articles related to work life

The happy teacher 30-day challenge

"How to decide if you should quit teaching"

"Croire" vs. "penser" et le subjonctif:
 I just tell them that of you think or believe something, there's no doubt in the French grammatical mind. And then I point out that penser and croire in negative and questions do have doubt. also some of the expressions aren't black and white because it depends how much doubt you want to express like with il est possible it can be either.

I tell mine that if I believe or think (or whoever the subject is) then in my mind it is a fact, according to how I see the world. If I don't believe it or think it (au négatif) I could change my mind with future info, so it may or may not be fact. This seems to help most of mine.



Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Round 2

I'm doing "The Whole30" again, Aug. 1-31.  This time around, I'll do the following:
-NO almond butter
-NO plantain chips
-limit snacks
-exception on Aug. 19 (wedding)

I am looking forward to doing "The Whole30" again because I ate crap for the past 2 weeks, eating too much at times, etc.  I know I can't eat much bread, rice, & flour in limited quantities because they make me feel bloated.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Reintroduction Day 7

I can't believe it's been a week already since I've completed "The Whole30"!?!  Honestly, though I could eat anything I want, I haven't and don't particularly want to!  I love French fries yet haven't had that.  I still haven't had real ice cream, just a blood orange sorbet (which was gooood from "Popbar", hahaha).

So here's what I've realized so far since I've been off "The Whole30":
-I can't have too much rice & bread (makes me feel bloated) - this SHOCKS me & makes sad because  I grew up eating both & love both!!!
-I've been eating too much & realize the other day that I need to stop myself before I feel full because it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to realize that it's full!
-I've become lazy & am cooking less, tsk, tsk, tsk.

I am 75% sure that I'll do "The Whole30" from Aug. 1-31...

Monday, July 17, 2017

Reintroduction Day 3

I had rice at lunch and dinner & guess what???  Rice makes me feel bloated!?!😱 In fact, I feel oh so full that I'm standing up while typing this!  It makes me so sad that 2 of my favorite foods (bread & rice) make me feel bloated!?!  Crazy, SIGH.

I made beef burger patties today (grass-fed beef, salt, pepper, 1 egg, garlic powder, basil, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin) & it was goood but a bit too spicy, ahhaha.  I touched beef with my bare hands for the 1st time!😱

A cashier asked me today if I was a swimmer, hahaah.  It must be because I'm so tan...  If only my upper-back was tan too, ahhaha!