Whole30 Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

Last Call for the Next #2catsWhole30

GUYS and GALS! Tomorrow we are kicking off yet another group #2catsWhole30! It’s not too late to join us (even if you have to start a day or two late!)

If you’ve been following my blog you know that I’m obsessed with the Whole30 Program and the possibilities of health and happiness that it gives people. After committing to 30 days of strict clean eating a couple of years ago, my life has been changed ever since. Like seriously, why in the world is there sugar and soy in just about every.single.thing we eat?!

If you want to join the fun, get ready for summer and challenge yourself to be the best YOU you can be… join us! We have a group of folks who are starting the #2catsWhole30 together tomorrow, and we have a great Facebook Group Page for support! The more the merrier!

Have questions? Wanna know what’s up with the Whole30? Check out this helpful post. Visit the Whole30 Website. Or send me an email! If you want to be added to the mailing list to receive meal planning and coaching tips, let me know asap!

BIG NEWS + Helpful Tips for your Next Whole30

by Susan

I apologize that this post is showing up at such a random time of the day… 5PM on a Friday, who’s really going to be reading blogs (other than me) at 5PM on a Friday?! I just really wanted to get this post live before the end of the week because I have BIG NEWS!

The next #2catsWhole30 starts on Wednesday April 15th! So many of you have been asking me about what I do and how I eat, and I’m always preaching the Whole30. Simply stated, it is 30 days of clean eating! You cut out the processed nonsense and eat real food for 30 days. During the last group Whole30 I lead, 8 people reported their weight loss to me. Those 8 lost a total of 71 pounds! (and several have reported to have lost 20+ more since the Whole30 ended… just by eating REAL food.) The Whole30 has made a world of difference in my life. You can see results from my last Whole60 (60 days instead of just 30) here.

So to kick things off I wanted to share a few Whole30 tips for any newbies out there. I have a post from a while ago with tons of must-knows that you should check out here.

I also wanted to share a fun list of things that you could use to help you through your Whole30:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (similar) | 7 | 8 | 9

And before y’all think I’m crazy for putting this one in the mix… I use it for my balsamic when I go out to eat! Brilliant right?

You also need to bookmark the Whole30 website. It’s a lifesaver. The “Can I Have…” Forum is a lifesaver and their timeline is spot on accurate.

There is one last thing that I have prepared for you to watch before you start your first (or next) Whole30! Here are 7 things that you need to do between now and next Wednesday:

If you’re looking for a way to kick start healthy eating and to get your body beach-ready for the summer, join us for the #2catsWhole30! Let me know if you have any questions! I am really excited to be starting my 7th Whole30 and leading my 4th Group Whole30! If you’re on the fence about doing it, please know that we have a private facebook group for support and encouragement, in addition to the 30 day meal plan I create and send out to you.

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN: Whole 30 + Paleo Sweet Potato Fries

by Susan

Oh em gee y’all. OMG. I am back from europe and boy to I have tales to tell. HOWEVER - I’m exhausted, so these tales will come another day. Jetlag is wonderful and the first day back to work + having my rib and back re-aligned got the best of me today.

So how about a Whole30 + Paleo Recipe post for this lovely Monday evening?

This is by far one of my all-time favorite Whole30 complaint recipes! It’s one that my husband and I could probably eat every.single.day. It’s the quickest way (outside of the gross microwave method) to cook and enjoy sweet potatoes! Y’all, it’s SWEET POTATO FRIES!

Quick story: On the first group Whole30 that I lead, several people reached out to me saying how much they hated sweet potatoes. They were all so upset that I had sweet potatoes on the menu so many times (because at the time, white potatoes were not compliant.) I told them to please, just please try my sweet potato fry recipe before they completely write-off this weird, orange potato. The next day, each of them emailed or texted me, saying how SHOCKED they were that they actually LOVED these sweet potato fries! #itoldyouso.

Whole 30 + Paleo Sweet Potato Fries

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Recipe type: Whole 30 compliant, Paleo, Gluten Free, Sugar Free

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Basil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400*F
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper (for easy clean up)
Cut your sweet potatoes into "fry shapes" and lay them on your baking sheet. (Be sure to use a good knife because sweet potatoes can be tough!)
Drizzle your sweet potato fries with olive oil, then move them all around (I use my hands) to make sure they all have a bit of olive oil on them. You want them to all be covered but not soaked by any means.
Sprinkle the fries with generous amounts of salt and basil.
Bake for 10 minutes. Take them out and shuffle and flip them.
Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
HINT: If you want to crisp them up a bit, flip the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes. I personally do not do this because we like them not-super-crispy.
Enjoy!

So there ya have it guys. A staple to our family menu, but also a staple to the Whole30. Please remember, these “fries” are Whole30 compliant because they are baked at home and you are not frying them in a “mystery oil.”

Now be honest: What do you think of sweet potatoes? Are they a staple in your Whole30 diet?

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Celebrate Southern: Whole60 Results

by Susan

Okay so I am well aware that this post has nothing to do with anything southern and it may or may not fit the extremely loose guidelines we have in place for this linkup - HOWEVER!!! It’s day 61 of my Whole 60! I did it guys! I DID IT! And I have to share my Whole60 results with you. (I’m so excited I am throwing off my entire blog schedule just to get this post live. It is what it is!)

My mind // Is extremely clear. While I have TONS of things to do (with vacation this week) my mind is feeling pretty sharp these days. I will say, just like I said on almost all of the other quarterly check-ins (Day 15, Day 30, Day 45) I’ve found that my entire body, but especially my mind, is at it’s best when I’ve had A LOT of water. I’m not quite as bad as my mom about drinking water, but I struggle to drink 2+ liters of water a day. I’ve learned that I feel best with 3 liters daily.

My skin // Considering “Aunt Flo” is coming to town this week, my skin is extremely clear. There is not one single zit or blemish on my face!

My weight // I weighed in today! I didn’t lose as much as I was hoping but I did lose a decent amount! The first 30 I lost 8 pounds. For the second half of this adventure I lost 6 more. So my total weight loss in 60 days was 14 pounds. Not bad for two months. (I was secretly hoping for 20.)

My sleep // I’ve found that I can work on less sleep. I can stay up a bit later with my husband and get up early with the pup. Maybe because the sleep I’m getting is better quality??

My cravings // I think I am going to have to do a post on “cravings and struggles” one day. I can honestly tell you I am not craving anything “bad” like I have with past whole30s. I find it amazing. Yesterday (Day 60) I went to a birthday party… they were oh so thoughtful and even bought me gluten-free brownies to enjoy while everyone else was chowing down on cake. I felt horrible saying “No Thanks” to them - but it was day 60. I wasn’t done. And I really didn’t want them.

So cravings? None. Will I partake in anything today that is not-whole30? Wine. I do worry that I haven’t done this long enough because I’m still mentally pulled towards red wine. I realize that no, I’m not craving it at all. I just want it.

My struggles // ~~Still exercising.~~ My husband has created a workout schedule for us. While it gets overwhelming (and my anxiety flairs up quite a bit more learning new gym things) I’m enjoying this Suz+Mike time, despite the fact that my legs are always hurting or feeling like spaghetti.

My loves // This is going to sound so vain, but I love my results. Yes, I could’ve done better (by adding exercise earlier on) but my body is changing for the best. Yesterday, my grandmother (who doesn’t follow this blog or know anything about my Whole60) pulled me aside and said “Suzy, have you lost weight?”

What I’ve learned // I’ve learned that there are certain things (like wine) that I just “want.” I’m not craving it, I don’t NEED it. I just want it. While I was really hoping this would break during the 60 days, I now realize how emotionally attached I am to some foods and drinks. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be the only one at the party without cake. It’s okay to sip sparkling water at the bar. I’ve learned that my body and my health is more important than a snickers bar. I hope this helps me in the future when I think “eh, just one more bite of _____.”

Even when it comes to clean eating, I’ve learned to stop and ask myself “Why do you want this ____?” (Insert almond butter into that blank most of the time!) It sounds silly, but if I have to ponder it, then that’s what I need to do. Am I hungry? Am I bored? Am I feeling sad? Will this bite help me reach my goals?

No Scale Victories:

Results in Numbers:

Overall Weight // -14 pounds

Waist // -3.25 inches

Belly // -2.25 inches

Butt // -1.75 inches

Left Leg // -1.75 inches Right Leg // -1 inch (but now they are the same!)

Boobs // -1.75 inches

So would I do another whole30? Yes. Would I do another whole60? Probably. This whole60 was a good thing for me. With numerous Whole30’s under my belt, I think I learned more with the Whole60 than I have with the Whole30. I learned that I can do it. I learned that it’s about life in the long term mindset, not just 30 days. I’ve learned that some friends will think you’re crazy - but a few will fully support and encourage you.

Wanna learn more? Surf around my blog a bit for clean recipes and tips… but head on over to Whole30.com and check out the ins and outs of this program. It’s strict. It’s built on tough love. It’s not necessarily easy. But if you are honest with yourself and if you follow every single rule, it will change your life.

Now give me a glass of wine and a banana pancake.

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Whole30 Results: Day 45 Check-in

by Susan

Hooray for Day 45! For the record, today is actually Day 48, but since I’ve been doing a check-in with each quarter of this journey… I figure I better stick with the trend. You can see Day 15 here and Day 30 here!

Here are my notes and “after” pics from Day 45 of my Whole60: (Please excuse my extremely dirty mirror… I can’t believe I didn’t go back and clean it after this picture!!)

My mind // I think I just have too much on my plate right now because my thoughts are becoming a bit jumbled again. I REALLY notice this happens on days when I don’t drink enough water (which, if I’m being honest, is most days.) I took the weekend “off” from all things work and blog related, and my mind was so clear. So I blame work and water for my “jumbled-ness” but I’m mentally so much stronger than I was when I was eating gluten and sugar.

My skin // Again, I’m noticing on days when I don’t drink enough water, a tiny zit may appear. My body has done a lot of adapting to the food I’m eating… I think need to be more alert when it comes to my water intake too.

My weight // Per the rules, you can only weigh yourself at the beginning and the end of a Whole30. I weighed myself on Day 30 (since it was the end of a Whole30) and I had lost 8 pounds. I don’t feel like I’ve lost anymore - but then I can look in the mirror and see my face is quite a bit thinner.

My sleep // Not a problem at all.

My cravings // I am so glad I forced myself BEYOND a Whole30 and committed to 60 days. I feel like I have had more time to think about what’s going on and realize the emotional attachment and “reward” that I attached to so many of the foods I used to eat. On bad days I think “I need a glass of wine” and then I ponder, Why? Is that glass of wine REALLY going to make anything better? Or in the evenings, I really just want to snack on SOMETHING… so I ask myself “Am I really hungry or do I just want to munch on something?” Most of the time its the latter. All that being said, I still want a glass of red wine.

My struggles // Still exercising. I need to get to that. Ugh.

My loves // Everything. There’s not one thing that I’m eating that I’m not loving. I’m even tempted to make it a year of no added/processed sugar… but that would just be crazy.

What I’ve learned // I know that I have been cooking and sharing recipes A LOT, but I’ve learned that I really like playing with food and being creative in the kitchen. While I’ve always loved making events beautiful and home projects stunning - I’m really having fun with making meals work with zero processed foods, no dairy, no sugar and no gluten.

Have you done a Whole30? What changes did you experience? Are you thinking about doing a Whole30? I’m 12 days away from a Whole60 so let me know if you have any questions!

Last Call for the Next #2catsWhole30

BIG NEWS + Helpful Tips for your Next Whole30

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN: Whole 30 + Paleo Sweet Potato Fries

Celebrate Southern: Whole60 Results

Whole30 Results: Day 45 Check-in

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