The Whole 30 Halfway

I am halfway done with my first Whole 30 food challenge. The way this has worked for me is I plan my food weekly  and I track my food daily. Weekly planning ranges from actually writing it down on a chart or a loose idea in my mind. I track daily using My Fitness Pal, for over a year and it's the backbone of my fitness transformation. My thoughts on The Whole 30 so far:

  • I feel healthier.
  • I'm skeptical about eating so much meat and eggs.
  • I worry a lot about relying too much on fruit and almond butter.
  • Within my support trio none of us abide the same 'version' of the plan.
  • I feel like I've lost weight and my physique has shifted (I also exercise and have not actually weighed myself - we're supposed to wait until Day 30!)
  • I have cooked more than I ever have in my entire life (honestly, the aspect I'm most proud of)!
  • The beginning was REALLY hard. 

The Whole 30 timeline is an invaluable resource. Having that as a guideline proves that nothing I'm experience is abnormal or something that needs to take me down (or cause me to go off plan). 

The first 11 days I experienced the headaches, exhaustion, and irritability. My body went through a major shift. I am a person who can resort to eating total crap junk food on the regular. Even when I was eating healthy - structured eating helped me lose 55lbs over the last year - that food routine was full of carbs, dairy and permitted sugars. Read: just enough dopamine-inducing food drugs to get by. I have not attempted eating Paleo since it was called Atkins in the late 90s (wink).  Inevitably, when I started, I was really grouchy and bitchy to my boyfriend who said I looked 'zapped' (drained) and grey or gaunt due to a rapid initial drop. Basically, I could tell my body was going through something. But I wanted to see what was on the other side.

Sugar and carbs are drugs and can have the same numbed-out impact of any wake and bake.   

I kept on - acclimating myself to this structure has had surprising positives. Don't tell anyone but I LOVE COOKING. I have cooked more in the last two weeks than I have in my whole life. I cook large batches of blueberry hash or ground beef with red onion, tomato, and balsamic.  I'm also more aware of my sleep hygiene, I see how my body fuels and restores itself. I'm more focused on goals and clear in my pursuits, personally -- The initial fog has truly fallen away to reveal a new, healthy aptitude.  

The nice part about turning the corner after the detox/ sugar hangover is that I barely remember how or why it was so difficult. I casually plan my meals for the week. I cook in bulk to be prepared for work days. I have go-tos when I don't have time to cook.  I am even focusing on how I'd like to refine my last 2 weeks to be more disciplined and get as much out of this as possible.

Once you hit the midway point The Whole 30 (or even just eating clean) is a healthy instance of, "if it feels good, do it."

I have struggled with food my whole life. Only in the last 2 years have I turned toward whole living, in many ways. I utilize support to help me through my struggles. I learn new and holistic ways to care for my body. I feel my feelings and inhabit my skin. I reach out to people who know more about topics I want to learn about. And I take action. The opposite of fear is action and all actions result in progress. So, while I'm glad this is only 30 days (or 20, or 3, or whatever you're ready to do in this moment) the amount of progress it speaks to is infinite. 

I'd love to hear your Whole 30 hooray or horror stories below! Take care. 

x/Amy

 

quirky minimalism

This reminds me of, on Project Runway, when they advise the designers to make sure their pieces look cohesive and part of a 'collection'.  Jewel tones, A-lined or layers, and statement accessories. The end. 

TIP: Try to sum up your style goals in 3 words -- That will provide focus. The more you focus what you're trying to express with your wardrobe the easier it is to tailor your closet to that goal.

Fashion rules are never hard and fast. However, when you're trying to talk yourself out of an impulse purchase or pressuring yourself to adopt some trendy style (pour one out for crop tops) go back to your own personal fashion foundation. It's more important to feel confident in what you're wearing than to stick with passing fads. Sure flares are coming back in style, and I may even wear some, but if I'm feeling out of sorts you know it's just gonna be leggings and that brown and black shirt and I'm just fine with that. 

x/Amy

why don't I have any sandals this summer?

Saturday 29 August 2015

  • Shoes: Aerosoles; purchased 2014
  • Pants: Modcloth; purchased 2015
  • Tank: Target; shapewear; purchased 2013
  • Top: Target; purchased uknown
  • Necklace: unknown; forever ago
  • Rings: Forever 21; purchased 2015

I think I'd be coming up with more creative day-wear if I laid my outfits out the night before. However, a bit of backstory: I wake up between 4:30-5am for work for 10 hour shifts, my job is dusty and involves technical equipment. Dressing for ease and the context of the workplace is also a thing - at thing I used to blatantly ignore with my septum ring and Jeffrey Campbell Lita's at 7am, but it's a journey. 

TIP: DESIGN YOUR ENSEMBLES THE NIGHT BEFORE -- yeah, I'll let you know when I heed my own advice on that one. -wink-

Sunday 30 August 2015

  • Shoes: Charlotte Russe; purchased 2015
  • Pants: Modcloth; purchased 2015
  • Tank: Charlotte Russe; purchased 2014
  • T-shirt: unknown; forever ago
  • Purse: Forever 21; purchased 2015
  • Necklace: lou lou; purchased forever ago

This was an outift for the Point Pleasant Beach, NJ boardwalk where it would be crowded and we'd be going on rides. Body-hugging clothing was a good choice. I love these Freelance Photographer Pants from Modcloth because they're on the pants side of leggings, which are kind of my favorite thing. I will probably never own chinos and that's okay. Luckily, tailored leggings make it even better than okay.

TIP: KNOW HOW DIFFERENT STYLES LAY ON YOUR BODY -- Take notice of feeling words when you put on different styles of pants. I love the culottes that are in but I'm only 5' tall - I do not feel the way the models seem to feel wearing them. Flared pants are back and I'm having a hard time with that. I enjoy how flares look on my body but for the LOOK I'm going for tailored leggings achieve best. Again, this speaks to my core fashion ideas of - try different things and feel your feelings. If it feels good on your body, making it look good is the easy part. 

How was your Labor Day? (Yes, I know my chronology is all out of wack!)

x/Amy

Whole 30 Day 3, 4, headache-land and how I'm staying motivated

Go visit www.daniellelaporte.com for more inspiration. If I can't motivate you, she sure af can. 

Beginning the Whole 30 is like voluntary PMS.  I'm glad I mapped out my food for the week - I'm gonna keep it movin' - because I have a headache. So, we're not gonna talk about it. What we should talk about is the support around this process. 

Any lifestyle change needs reinforcement in other areas of your life. 

First off, the people around me are my main motivators. This is why so many bloggers write about surrounding yourself with people who move you in the right direction. My roommates eat well and take care of themselves. Brenna and Hafsah were trying this food plan right when I needed to shake up my weight loss, health, and fitness approach. It's an extension of the saying: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ― Jim Rohn. Secondly, I'm listening to Helya Naghibi's podcast Fit Dirty Thirty, which gives daily assignments - the only one of which I excel at is drinking enough water. The first two I'll tack on at the bottom of this post. Mostly, it's a foundational tool, to start my day in the right mindset. I get in the car to go to work, I listen, I stick to my food plan. Simples. 

The people and media you surround yourself with inform your behavior. 

Lastly, and most importantly I'm exercising - not daily, not excessively, not even really enough - but it's something. My favorite class right now is Body Positive at Willow Street Yoga in Takoma Park, MD, where I'm also doing Yoga I (for the 30th time). It covers all the bases: the people inspire and guide me and what I hear and do transforms me.

I would love to be toned and fit and I'll keep working on it. For today, I'm grateful for the health my body has currently.   I have what I need and I try to remember that because as long as I honor that and keep my surroundings positive, I seem to move in the right direction.

HELYA'S FIT DIRTY 30 PODCAST ASSIGNMENTS:

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MYSELF:

  1. My constant need to explore, that I'm 'always seeking', mentally and otherwise.
  2. That I am very attuned to design.
  3. My ability to see large-scale and singular focus. #perspective
  4. That I am very loyal.
  5. That I enjoy considering and being considerate of other people.

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY BODY:

  1. My eyes, primarily, though my whole face is worthy. 
  2. That I am surprisingly strong.
  3. My legs.
  4. It communicates my health to me (through my skin, nails, tongue, eyes, and feelings).
  5. My hands. 

X/Amy

limited prints edition

Friday 21 August 2015

  • Shoes: Aerosoles; purchased; 2014
  • Leggings: Target; purchased; 2012
  • Top: handmedown
  • Necklace: unknown; forever ago
  • Phone case: Amazon

Two work outfits. I'm grateful I can dress fairly casually at work - not just casual, but in "my style". I would feel exceedingly oppressed if I had to figure out 'business' or 'business casual' dress on the regular. While most of what I wear is almost there, I don't really know what an actual office would say. Those space buns I rocked last week were definitely a Saturday-no-managers-around decision. -wink-

TIP: LET LIFESTYLE INFORM CAREER -- For the youth, let what you already prefer guide some of your "what should I do with my life" decision making. What is your favorite type of footwear? That could provide loads of information as to how you might want to make a living. Nikes? Maybe you're more hands on and want an active career. Loafers? Go Greek. Flatform sneakers? Maybe something in media. Too busy studying to care? Lawyer. Leave a comment if you'd like me to write more in-depth on what I mean by this. 

Saturday 22 August 2015

  • Shoes: Charlotte Russe; 2015
  • Tights: Target or Safeway
  • Dress: Urban Outfitters; 2014
  • Cardigan: Target; 2012ish
  • Purse: Forever 21; 2015
  • Necklace: gift

I love this dress and these shoes. I like wearing clothes that make me happy, Sounds pretty rudimentary but I've watched enough What Not To Wear to know that comfort and joy are usual interchanged and misunderstood. My dear friend Kayla, fan of baseball caps and crocs (hey! they're comfy and have cute ones, relax), recently bought some skull print and floral dresses and the change in the brightness in her face when she wears them is undeniable. There's room in your wardrobe for both but - if it brings you joy, makes you smile, feels a little naughty - Do it. On the flip side, I banned prints from my life around the summer of 2009 when I saw a picture of myself in a cherry print babydoll top that looked horrific. What. Even. I decided then that I'd really limit the types of patters I wore. I consider myself to be kind of cartoonish and I just don't feel the need to layer loud prints on top of that. I like minimal design and bold statements. 

TIP: INVENTORY PRINTS -- I don't wear loud prints or plaid. Plaid is one I question sometimes but have been resolute in it for years. Loud prints - I'm completely done. Pick a signature print you really love on you (I like stripes and abstract polka dots). If you're afraid something looks awkward on  you (and that does NOT mean horizontal strips on an apple body type - you can rock that all day long) or it makes you uncomfortable, feels unnatural, or doesn't fit with your aesthetic - write it off for a little while. See if eliminating something makes shopping and dressing easier. You know, the way people give up Gluten, give up "shirts with words on them"; I bet your world would look totally different. 

P.S. - I don't wear plaid because I'm not a lumberjack, a hipster, or a 70s punk, even if I want to be. I also don't need plaid to reference any of those if I want to add some of that flavor. 

P.P.S. - Fashion's never set in stone. If I wanna rock a plaid mini I damn well will. 

x/Amy

mildly disheveled pt. 2

Damn near the exact same outfits as a couple weeks ago. Wow!

Low budget may not equal no options, but laziness sure does.  -wink-

TIP: REPEAT OUTFITS ARE 100% ALLOWED: For work, primarily, especially when you wake up before 5am like me! But also for casual. I think the 'repeat thing' is reserved for dressy functions hosted by the same person or group. I did not wear same dress to Maureen's bridal shower as her wedding, for instance. 

This was the moment I realized I need to change it up more! Yay!

x/Amy

 

reclaiming basic

Saturday 15 August 2015

  • Shoes: Nasty Gal; purchased; 2015
  • Dress: Forever 21; purchased; 2015
  • Necklace: gift
  • Choker: take a simple chain and wrap it around yo' neck twice: instant trend-following.

Sunday 16 August 2015

  • Shoes: Aerosoles; purchased; 2014
  • Same everything else except the dress is in a different color, I bought all 3.

Cute. Cute. Cute. The sleeve length, the fit, the ease - an easy A-line dress is essential, IMO. When I saw this is fall colors I bought all 3, they're only $15. On these days I was driving to New Jersey, spending a day in the house with the family, incredibly simple while still feeling entirely put together - something that probably took my entire 20s to figure out. 

TIP: MAKE LIFE EASY; BUY MULTIPLES -- There are several pairs of shoes I mourn only having bought one pair. If something works buy more when you can. 

Is there a long-lost clothing item you still mourn? I'm still not over an olive green thermal shrug from 2008.

x/Amy