Whoa. So maybe I’m not so good at doing something like this for 30 days. It’s true on Saturday I enjoyed a tortilla and a couple of cocktails. I wish my backsliding had been a lot more interesting, but alas, it was not. Sadly, my bad attitude about this did not adjust. I just jumped back on the horse and cranked my way through. You guys, I need a gluten-free cookie and a glass of wine like nobodies business. But until that magic happens, thanks for all of your rad suggestions. Like these faux nachos above. Thanks for that amazoids tip!
Instead of doing my own seasoned grown beef and guac, I picked up some supplies at Chipotle, then fried the world’s tiniest sweet potato chips in coconut oil. It was great. Really.
And this cheater’s pork stew from Nom Nom Paleo? Also great, in spite of the sad lighting on this bowl.
Nom Nom also did me a solid with these recipes for lime chicken and spicy cauliflower.
That cauliflower recipe is going on heavy rotation. SO good.
In fact, all of this food was great. I made some more sweet potato hash for breakfast, indulged in lots of locally made yummy almond milk, had some spinach and bacon eggs, and I can say with all honesty it was good food. So. What’s my problem?
I want some carbs. I want some sugar—hey, it can even be in honey form—and I want it now. What a baby, right?
Here’s what I’ve heard from people: “After day 20 it’s easy.” “It’s really not that hard.” “You’re going to feel AMAZING.” “Your skin is going to look gorgeous.”
None of these things are true.
What is true is that you can make amazing food on this diet. I feel like I’ve totally done that with the help of lots of great food blogs. I’ve lost 10 pounds and my digestive system has been happy since eating non-processed food is perfect for a celiac. No risk of hidden ingredients means no pants pooping. That is a win.
So maybe I’m weak. Maybe I just have no patience. It’s possible I have a problem with anyone (even my own head!) telling me what to do. Maybe I’m just a better person on sugar. Or maybe, I’m too dumb to notice that if something is turning you into the crankiest girl in town, maybe it’s time to stop.
I’m going to think on the lessons learned, what was gained, and why at the very end of this Whole 30 I’m all, “‘Eff this, let’s get in the car and get outta’ town!” When only a few weeks ago I was all, “Happy Whole 30 New Year!” Let’s ponder, shall we? Okay, just me then.
Gluten is my Bitch 
Those nachos may save my whole 30 ass!
Funny…this is still how I feel about the gluten-free diet itself. Where are my renewed vitality and incredible results? What gives?
Molly, Have you heard of this small study on a few celiacs?: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23448408 Basically some celiacs need to go pretty much WHole 30 (60? 90?) to get real remission of symptoms and then nearly all this subset can go back to eating typical glutenfree foods without harm. Not saying that’s you but just throwing it out there…
I have heard of it and am weighing it as a possibility. I’m a vegetarian partly for moral/environmental reasons so don’t love the idea of doing a diet that pretty much requires meat. In a few months I am going to start giving it some serious thought, maybe after a follow-up biopsy.
Emotional eating is a hard nut to crack – I still haven’t done it. However, I am now fully aware of the times I am eating out of emotional need rather than bodily need, and that’s an important first step. For a long while, I wondered why I felt such intense cravings for dried pineapple. The cravings were so intense, I thought it was some nutritional need being expressed subconsciously. Now, I know differently: they were simply VERY strong emotional cravings that disappeared once the stressor related to them (my former job) was removed (I quit). Removal and/or avoidance aren’t the healthiest of coping mechanisms, but as a short-term fix has certainly saved me from a sugar hangover or two.
I guess what I’m saying is it might help to ask if the craving for carbs, or alcohol, is not truly a craving for ‘normalcy’. During the three years it’s taken me to adjust to my allergy diagnosis, the biggest change came when I acknowledged that I would never eat ‘normally’ again. Like a grieving process, it took time to arrive at that point, and it’s taking time to fully internalize. Every day presents new challenge, and every challenge presents a choice – we always control how we proceed.
Here’s to being forced to new levels of self-awareness, for good or ill. Keep it up!
I just finished my third Whole 30 and for some reason, it felt much harder than the first two. Conquering the sugar demon is the hardest bit for me – I’ve been grain free for 4 years, dairy free for 4 months and largely alcohol free for about 4 months as well. Sugar seems to be the hardest thing of all to give up. I’ve just discovered your blog and am looking forward to reading your book.
Thanks! I know. I love that sugar.
So are you done with your Whole 30 now (as of September 23rd)? What are you going to do with this new body-info this diet gave you? I find myself splitting the difference a lot of times – with grain-free lightly sweet muffins lately… they must have chocolate chips in them.
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Awesome! You should definitely take part to our project! http://Soceleaters.com 👍
This is exactly how I am with GF. It stays hard for me. I LOVE TORTILLAS!!!
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