whole 30

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The Whole 30 Challenge Week 4: The Wrap Up

Aside | Posted on by robindine

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Every thing is weird. Man oh man.

Image result for and jesus wept dean pelton

For there were no more worlds to conquer.

 

Well, I would say I’ve learned a lot about the Whole 30 and here are my keys to success.

 

Rob’s Keys To Success

 

Have a partner.

modern family

I mean Mary and I transitioned from sad hung over kittens, to cooking partners, to competitors to sharing war stories in the matter of a month. The accountability factor is nice too because it makes harder to quit. It’s just important to have someone to vent to, someone who saves leftovers for you, and someone who also will understand your texts about which cereal you miss the most.

 

Don’t start day 1 hung over.

hey arnold

When you think about giving up drinking for a month, you think you need to have a Mardi Gras  experience but believe you me it’s a trap. The worst thing is ever to be hung over during day 1 and not be able to have pop or a cheeseburger. Spend the last day before the whole 30 hung over eating garbage before you start.

 

Be adventurous with your meals.

funny homer simpson the simpsons simpsons homer

Boredom was a real thing for me. You can only make so many different kind of eggs.Mary was much better in this category than me, but there are so many recipes out there for Whole 30 and one should take advantage.

 

Do your research.

teen wolf study medicine studying prepa

The Whole 30 is a commitment and before you do it you should know what you are getting into, there are plenty of books and I hate to say it a plethora of rules.

 

Don’t just jump in.

time college dinner

Take your time. Figure out when the whole 30 is going to work for you. I specifically chose February because it didn’t have any high drinking events in this month so be conscious about the time. You don’t want to set your self up to fail.

 

Accountability plays a role.

filmeditor falling mean girls mean girls movie trust fall

It often felt like a risky move sharing all of this with you all but it in the end I think it was the right thing to do. There is something about the people in your world watching  you that makes you feel like you don’t want to fail because it’s so public. I knew I couldn’t get away sneaking treats at work because people knew what I was doing, and same with my friends and that really kept me in check. Real talk this was a hard month because for some reason every patient at the hospital decided to just have a heart of gold and make all these cookies for the staff. It.was.killer.

 

 

The future of Whole 30 and me.

In the end of all this I would go as far as to say that I was a fan. It wasn’t easy but I think the benefits were worth it. I don’t think the Whole 30 in itself isn’t manageable long-term which is why it’s only designed to be for 30 days. I think you have to make it work for yourself. I feel like I will maintain an 80/20 ratio of this diet. I plan to just have a pre chosen meal once a week that’s off the diet. I am not a super heavy drinker so I will probably allow myself the amount of alcohol I had previously. And yes I will drink Diet Coke on the weekends, the world can make its piece with that truth.

 

And to my loyal readers…

 

I just want to say that I’ve been so grateful for the support over this past month. Everyone has been keeping up, telling me encouraging things and I feel like I really had a invested community behind me. I know it’s silly because at the end of the day, it’s just a diet but it’s nice to know people care. To everyone who is wanting to give it a try, please reach out to me. I’m by no means an expert but I will definitely split an avocado with you and listen to your woes (but know it will get better too).

community teamwork group hug hanging out hang out

 

 

For bonus: My top 5 cooldown songs.

  1. Fresh Feeling-Eels
  2. Runaway-Grace Mitchell
  3. Doin’ it Right-Daft Punk
  4. One Day They’ll Know-Pretty Lights
  5. Seaside-The Kooks

 

 

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The Whole 30 Challenge Week 3: The Brainwash

Aside | Posted on by robindine

So here we are in week 3 kids. Who would’ve thought? I do have to say everyone’s support has been really appreciated. I called this segment “The Brainwash” because I think it’s what’s happened to me. I feel like I’m at the phase now where I kind of like the Whole 30. I’m starting to see and feel the benefits and I’m not audibly sighing when people ask me how it’s going.

The Simpsons episode 13 season 9 principal skinner group

#melissanddanhartwig

Here is what I’ve learned this week…

 

I’ve been getting in shape a lot faster than it’s happened in the past.

getting on hbo

Normally I’ll just start working out in random waves but don’t always diet at the same time and this time I’m doing them in tandem and my workouts have gotten much stronger much quicker than normal. I’m doing my same routine but I would say its progress has been faster than in the past.

 

Is drinking pop the new smoking?

soda

“It causes cancer” “it messes with your weight” “it has all these unnatural substances in it” “might as well be ingesting rat poison”

All things that were once said about smoking but now I feel are being said about pop (or soda for my non-Michigan friends). If you are a heavy pop drinker now you keep it on the DL or you are openly judged. Unless you meet another peer who shares your love and you can talk about the sweet carbonation you aren’t safe. I tell people how I still miss Diet Coke and people seem disappointed the cult’s beliefs haven’t converted me that far yet.

I will add my PSA of please don’t smoke. After working on a stroke unit for a year I want to say if you can decrease your risk of a stroke you can decrease your risk of a punk like me wiping your ass.

 

This diet is kind of making me a basic bitch. 

Image result for broad city basic bitch

I went on a walk last week and went to Martha’s Vineyard and I hadn’t been there in a minute but I did say the following two phrases. “Oooohh is that grapefruit LaCroix?” and “Omg they have unsalted almonds here??” And before you think there is hope for me you should know I said the letters OMG in that sentence and not the actual words.

 

My new coffee addiction has got feeling like Nancy Botwin

Image result for nancy botwin coffee gif

Adding to my basicness for sure. I drink a lot of iced coffees now because it’s the only caffeine I can have besides tea. I  feel like I walk around with my straw in mouth and quick wit just like Nancy except her idea of danger is The Cartel and mine is daydreaming about hacking into my mom’s Hulu account and upgrading this family to no commercials.

 

Not to sound paranoid but I am finding a hint of surprise in some voices when I tell people I haven’t quit.

Related image

Obviously I don’t mean to discredit people who have been very supportive. I mean I’m sure it’s just low self-esteem or something but yes I’ve heard some infliction of surprise. To all the haters out there, Mary and I have made it to day 23.

 

People have a lot of questions

interview chris pratt distracted captivated

It’s actually very nice and I like that people are curious. I think a couple of people are considering doing this for themselves so I invite questions for sure.

 

Some bonus items..

 

My top 5 running songs (currently)

  1. Let ’em Say by Luzzo
  2. Me, Myself & I by G-Eazy
  3. Could Have Been Me by The Struts
  4. Confident by Demi Lovato (what? I’m a well to do gay man I’m going to listen to Demi)
  5. Online Songs by Blink 182

 

My top weight loss inspirations

  1. Fight Club. The intensity of Tyler Durden will always inspire me to live my life in ALL CAPS.
  2. Chris Pratt. I mean there is a scene in early Parks and Rec where you see  a tape of Andy auditioning for Survivor and he is shirtless and chubby and now cut to Guardians of the Galaxy. I know we all now but still.
  3. My wardrobe. I have a large amount of clothes that I can wear again if I just lose a small amount of weight and I’m too cheap to just buy new clothes.
  4. Wanting to keep my legs. Working with a lot of amputees in the hospital and many of them are diabetics and I feel like when I mention I’m diabetic to them they give me a this-could-be-you look.
  5. The fact I graduated high school 10 years ago. I doubt I would go to my reunion but it can make you feel reflective on such an anniversary.

 

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The Whole 30 Challenge Week 2: The Boredom

Aside | Posted on by robindine

So as many of you know I’ve been dong the whole 30 challenge. We are now at the halfway point. Who thought we would make it here? Not me every day but we are here nonetheless. The first part of my journey was all about cravings, and being depressed. Now a lot of that awfulness has passed but I’m also pretty bored of variation of eggs and baked chicken.

Here is what I have learned this week.

I will not ever suffer from scurvy because I eat like a 4 lb bag of oranges in 2 days.

The Simpsons food episode 10 upset season 16

 

Mary (my young sister) is a better chef than me. I spent my whole life thinking she was the ultimate sous chef but it turns out she knows how much cayenne pepper to put on things and remembers to turn off the oven.

Image result for amy schumer sauced

 

I feel like I’m colder a lot more of the time now. That might be just winter but these are my observations.

Saturday Night Live snl cold kate mckinnon freezing

 

Fun Bonus Segment!

Gym Bummers!

As the whole 30 keeps on moving, so does the gym time. I’m by no means new to the gym but I feel like as I’m journaling this whole thing I’m making more notes on my surroundings and here are the people who are the most annoying at the gym.

  1. Senior Citizen jibber jabber. I know I know it’s insensitive and it’s not that I don’t want elderly people at the gym. However sometimes they will stand in high-profile places like where you need to swipe your card  or in front of the place where you fill your water bottle and they are just talking to one of their peers about something you will never be able to decipher because you zoned out immediately.

funny movies kids bored twins

 

2. Locker room lingerers are a thing. There are some people who just love being naked and will use all of their powers to delay getting dressed. They will pace around and ask a loose acquaintance how their kid is doing in school, make small talk with the staff stocking towels all to just remain nude. Like just get dressed you know? Also they never seem to want to move their bag off the bench for you in fear if they touch the bag their clothes will jump on them without asking.

Image result for date night put on a shirt

 

3. Kids! I apologize to a lot of you because I know many of you are parents that will read this blog (bless you for that by the way) and just remember it’s not your kids personally that are making me crazy. It’s not even kids in general but some people feel the need to let their children run on the track without them  and in the wrong direction. Also some dads feel the need to bring their young kids in the locker room and I just don’t want to strip in front of your child when at the YMCA you literally have your own family locker room. Just do us all a favor and go one more door down.

mrs krabappel

 

4. Protein dudes. We all know them, and they are the worst. Making their weird potions and constantly telling you but not telling you directly about how much they’re taking, their lifting schedule, and how they barely even do cardio now.

bane

 

5. People who take the treadmill right next to you when there are plenty open. It’s almost as bad as taking the urinal right next to me when you got other options.

Patrick Stewart hello bathroom son blunt talk

 

Even more bonus. Now that I’m not drinking Diet Coke I’m trying all of the Lacroix flavors I can and here are my top 3 and bottom 3 choices.

Bottom 3

  1. Coconut:I don’t feel like I want to taste sun tan lotion that has been carbonated.
  2. Lime: It’s a seltzer water with lime and no gin. No sale.
  3. Orange: Just such a bummer because it’s not Sunkist but also just way too mild.

Top 3

  1. Strawberry Pineapple: you gotta schlep to Target but it’s worth it
  2. Passionfruit: Thank you Anna-Marie Jenks for that introduction
  3. Grapefruit: a bronze medal at best

Top 3 things I miss right now

  1. Club sandwiches
  2. Quesadillas
  3. Harmony’s Grapefruit Moon (that could be inspired by the Lacroix)

Special shout out to my MFB folks. Everyone checks in a lot and wants to know how it is and asks questions which I think is cool. I appreciate the support and accountability especially when a nurse who shall remain nameless tried to bust me for putting cream in my coffee but it was just coconut milk.