A couple of weeks have gone by and a lot has happened. I am so proud of completing the Whole30 Program yesterday! Last time I wrote was a few days before my trip started and about a week and half of whole30 left. Just like everyone's life, my life got a little hectic and through me some curveballs on completing my whole30. My most improtant lesson was just to (1) plan my "emergency snacks." My second lesson of the past couople weeks was (2) listen to the encouragement surrounding me.
Most of last week was spent in Rochester, Minnesota at the Mayo clinic, but a lot of challenges happened a long the way. I knew traveling would be hard because there are so many traditional habits of mine such as having ginger ale on the plane, or eating sweets, but I managed. I brought cashews in with me and I planned on drinking ice tea, or apple juice in ice tea. At the airport, instead of buying chocolate covered pretzels, or any treats I enjoyed two hard boiled eggs from the news stand. (I was so excited to find protein in the airport that I knew was safe for my whole30). On the plane I slept most of the way so food was not on my mind. Once we got to the airport I may have become a little more "hankry" (hungry+angry) and my mother might have been as well. The cinnabon store, chocolate stands, vending machines, and caribou coffee (another tradition of mine when I visit the midwest) suddenly grew to be bigger than big in my eyes. I started looking on my phone to see where I could get food to eat nearby with my mother. A Whole Foods was pretty close and I knew there was "safe" food there too. Because we weren't in Minneapolis for the whole trip, I had to plan again! I wasn't quite sure if Rochester would have a natural foods store, so we bought food for the week, here was my list:
Applegate brand lunch meat, uncured turkey bacon (uncured is important because it is free of nitrates), lara bars (only have fruit, nuts, and dates are used to sweeten them), hard boiled eggs, La Croix sparkling warter, Cocounut yogurt (plain), fresh guacomole, cut cucumbers, cut celery, baby carrots
The last two days of my whole30 might have been the hardest. I ended up in Cedar Rapids to visit my amazing school friends and tennis family. I thought maybe I just stop now and let it go, but I didn't want to give up and fall into habits again. I wanted to prove to myself I could maintain distance from unnecessary snacks at school. Thankfully I had support that also wouldn't let me just quit either.
Now that I'm done, I would do it again in a heart beat. I think the greatest change is I'm happy to be me today, and I want to be stronger tomorrow. I don't need a number to reinforce that I am getting stronger every day either. I now strongly believe that for at least me, when it comes to weight, I don't need to weigh myself every week, every two-4 weeks is plenty. I want my food choices to be about feeding my body nutrients to make my body stronger. I also have relearned how much I can control my "cravings" just by planning my alternative options. Going to a movie doesn't mean a bucket of popcorn. Going to a christmas party doesn't mean a plate full of deserts.Going to school doesn't mean eating cookies at lunch. I feel so empowered. I'm not undereating, I'm not overeating, I'm eating just to the right point and feeling great.
The only step back for me the past couple weeks has been lack of excercise mainly because I have been going from appointment to appointment litterally from 7:30-5, and than the past couple of days I have been graced with spending so much time around friends. I am okay with this step back, and look forward to taking two steps forward throughout the next week as I continue my preperation for my sevend day ride. I don't quiet yet know what my next mini goal is but I think its to do a 70-100 mile bike ride before spring break.
For now I also have to start fundraising! I am officially registered to do the ride in June, but I have to raise $3,000 and so does my riding partner! If you can help us out here are some awesome ways:
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3044054&pg=personal&fr_id=1630
-collect change every day until May and send us a check or deliver the coins to Colorado or donate online the total amount
-buy a spoke on one of our wheels (selling for $100 each) we'll put your name on the spoke or anything you'd like so long as it is appropriate (email me: beckleyjulia3@gmail.com) to do this
-donate to pay it forward
-donate as a present for someone else
-buy babysitting time in certificate form for 8$ an hour (normally I charge 12-15$ an hour)
We will have other opportunities to help out including events :) if you have any ideas don't be afraid to share!
Thanks for your support however it may come through words, money, or thoughts and prayers :)
