Whole30: Day 3 Recap

From August 1 through August 23, I’m documenting my Whole30, including the when, what, where, and how much of my sleep, activity, food, and mood. Read about why I’m doing the Whole30 right here. Not familiar with the Whole30? Learn all about it here and get extra help with the Whole30 Daily.

Whole30: Day 3

So today was interesting. My energy was pretty good, and I was in a happy mood — unless I got frustrated by something, then I had the shortest fuse EVER. Instant meltdown. Also, I kept forgetting what I was doing. I walked from the studio to the house and, when I arrived in the kitchen, I’d forgotten why I was there. I got in the car to deliver a batch of books to Peoples Pharmacy, but left the books in my office. I finally resorted to making a list of everything I wanted to do, not so I could check it off, but so I wouldn’t forget.

Fold laundry
Write Rants & Raves
Review press release
Defrost ground beef
Take a shower
Write Day 3 recap

Thyroid hormone experiments; don’t try this at home, kids.

Sleep
7.5 hours (11:15 p.m. to 6:45 a.m.) — Yeah, it’s a pattern. I stayed up too late watching the Olympics again.

Activity
Strength training: It’s our de-load week, which means we enjoy low weights to prepare for the onslaught of the increase in weight next month. My workout looked like this:

2X back squat @ 65# + 5 perfect pushups
2X back squat @ 75# + 5 perfect pushups
2X back squat @ 95# + 5 perfect pushups
2X bench press @ 55# + 10 straight leg reverse crunches
2X bench press @ 65# + 10 straight leg crunches
2X bench press @ 75# + 10 straight leg crunches

1:00 wall handstand, for fun

It turned out to be a great workout, but it could have gone horribly wrong. Details below under Photo of the Day.

Kundalini: Robin put us through a challenging set of kriyas in class today for the second chakra (associated with creativity and procreation). Although the second chakra is located below the navel point, we did a sh*t-ton of stuff with our arms, and every exercise lasted three minutes. It was grueling in a slow grind kind of way. Don’t believe it? Sit up straight, reach both arms overhead, close your eyes, and breath… for three minutes. How’re your shoulders feeling? It was awesome in that “I wish this would stop soon” way, and then we did one of my favorite chants for our mediation. It’s called the Tantric Har Too (hear it here) and it’s from the album The Heart Rules, which is nice, right? The word har is pronounced like “hud,” and it means creative infinity. When you chant har, you’re supposed to contract your abs to expel the air in your lungs and make the sound, like really powerful singing from the diaphragm, so the meditation is also kind of like a core workout. Dig it!

Food
I’ve found my appetite is less ravenous, and I feel better if I eat in a 11-hour window — usually between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. so I can stop eating about 2-3 hours before going to bed — and don’t snack between meals or before bed. Because I’m dealing with my thyroid experiment, I’m measuring and tracking my food right now. I aim for 40% fat, 30% protein, 30% carbs.

Breakfast, 9:30 a.m.
3.5 ounces Romanian sausage
1/2 cup sweet potatoes
1 1/2 cups broccoli
1 teaspoon coconut oil

Lunch, 1:30 p.m.
1 can tuna (I like Genova Tonno.)
1 tablespoon homemade mayo
1/2 large cucumber
1/2 red bell pepper
1 cup snap peas
1/2 cup blackberries
1 teaspoon Sunbutter

Dinner, 8:00 p.m.
3.5 ounces Romanian sausage
salad: 1/2 head butter lettuce, small bell pepper, scallions + 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar
1 cup broccoli + 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil & garlic
1 cup cauliflower rice
1/4 cup blackberries + 7 cherries
2 Brazil nuts (to get selenium)

Mood
Pleasant and upbeat, until it wasn’t. Then I was a little bit of a screaming banshee.

Photo of the Day
So… the two lifting racks at our gym are fairly close to each other. I’m very, very careful when I walk between them because Dave’s bar is right at the height of my noggin, and it would be really easy to bean myself on it. Can you sense what’s coming? Just before our first lift today, I ducked under his bar to pick up a lifting mat that was leaning against the wall, turned around, and sproing-bam-clonk! stood up straight into his bar with the top of my head. Not an auspicious beginning to the day, but I don’t seem to have suffered any lasting damage.

How was your Day 3?

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Comments

  • Christa J says:

    I had a similar day 3. A headache came in the afternoon. I love getting the daily whole30 e-mails!

  • wendy says:

    My day 3 was good, but I’m running on the same sleep pattern, for the same reason. Stupid athletes. The video at the end of the Whole30 was perfect! I hope I look that cute when I’m nodding at my desk.

  • Lynn says:

    My day 3 wasn’t bad. Coming off of a mainstream diet, the added fat seems strange, but is doing wonders! I have lost the urge to snack!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sleep quality has improved as well.

    My workout was tough, and I enjoyed all but the running. I will have yoga in the morning. Sunday is my rest day, then back to kettlebell sport training on Monday.

    I am getting some sort of cold or sinus infection, the occasional headache, and I seem to have hit the “kill all things” stage.

    Thank you for sharing your experience!

  • Kate says:

    Uf, my workout was tough too, even though it was just a 30-minute strength training curcuit. In the end I found myself just smashed, tired and cranky, but happily remembered that that’s just a short period of adaptation. So the rest of the day I was just relaxing and enjoying delicious whole foods like baked sweet potatoes, chicken, avocadoes, coconut oil, eggs and a ton of fresh vegetables. This was a very nice day=)

  • Anne E. says:

    Seriously struggling today. My body just feels worn down and not right. I went to the farmer’s market today, and on the way to the butcher I just felt lethargic and slightly light-headed. I’ve been working out pretty hard the last couple days ( I do the crossfit mainsite wod’s), and luckily today is a rest day. I am very much looking forward to the end of this and the beginning of feeling fantastic.

    Craving milkshakes and garlic french fries today. It feels quite empowering to acknowledge my cravings, realize what they are, and not give in to them.
    xox

  • lisa says:

    I am struggling as well…it’s been challenging. My energy is at about zero and my mood is very snappy. I haven’t been getting cravings or the desire to snack which is great, but these heavy meals make me feel lazy. If you are what you eat, right now I am a slab of fat meat…I guess this is carb flu! I hope the energy comes soon, I can’t wait to feel the benefits!

  • Becky says:

    My day 3 was good. I blew off my workout, in favor of meal planning, reading, etc. Already my ring feels looser. Husband is on board and is noticing relief in his sinuses.

    My biggest impression is how much fat I’m eating and how extravagant that seems.

    Made mayo yesterday, and it is dee-lish! I have steamed a lot of veggies, cooked ground beef and pork, chicken thighs, and mixed up tuna salad.

    Lunch today: BLAT salad: mixed greens topped with vine-ripe tomatoes, topped with crispy bacon (still hot and dripping a little fat), and avocado. Mayo kicker.

    I think it’s working.
    Thanks!

  • janine says:

    Hey Mel,
    Quick question. I’m using all your recipes in “Well Fed” for my Whole 30. They said one dessert isn’t Whole 30 approved. Which one is it?
    Also, any fast and furious recipe ideas for a single mom (10 month old at that!) who works over 40 hours a week??

    I’ve been getting up extra early and making batches of your recipes. Love the salmon cakes! Your site and book are a godsend.

    • Mel says:

      Hi, Janine. The dessert that’s not whole30 approved is the peach crisp. It’s marked with “treat” — even though all of the ingredients are whole30 approved, when they come together, they violate the spirit of the Whole30. The crisp is great for after a Whole30 is done.

      Hot Plates are the only way I can manage cooking quickly. Cook tons of chicken and beef and veggies in batches and then mix & match.

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