Whole 30 Halfway Point - Day 15 (Recipes included)

This challenge really hasn't been all that hard.  Having such a great support group and such wonderful food choices this time of year, I haven't really been all that tempted to stray from the plan.  I will admit that walking through Costco on a Sunday while hungry was VERY difficult!  They had some kind of pie sample table RIGHT near the produce section and it smelled oh so good!  However, I snuck an apple out of my container of apples and munched on that to get me through the store. 

I've come to really enjoy black coffee, something I thought I would never say!  I crave blueberries and sweet potatoes.  And water!!! I am no longer starving by 11:00am and can easily make it until 12:00 for lunch...sometimes I have to remind myself to eat as I have a 1:00 meeting and won't have time to eat again until later in the day otherwise.  My skin is flawless (could be the Proactive, could be the diet, could be both!).  I do still want a beer or a glass of wine on a Friday after a long work week but am finding enjoyment in mango/pineapple smoothies as a treat.  I can see a noticeable difference in my legs, butt and stomach.  Mainly, less of them all! 

My post WOD recovery does not seem to have suffered at all (my shake mirrors the same grams of carbs/protein/fat I was taking in pre Whole 30 which I assume helps here).  I have felt great in the gym (aside from my back) and feel more than motivated to continue for the next 15 days!  I've also found I have no shame in eating, regardless of what people think!  On my way to go hiking on Saturday, after a great WOD, I munched on a pre-cooked sweet potato on I5.  I received several curious looks as people tried to figure out what the hell I was eating!  Also, I carry cinnamon in my purse because you never know when an apple or sweet potato might need a little cinnamon!

My food prep takes less time the more I do it.  Yesterday I hard boiled some eggs, boiled chicken to make shredded chicken for a salad and cooked peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, shrimp and scallops on the BBQ.  My prepped meals for the beginning of the week look like this:

Chicken Salad (modified a recipe I found but didn't really like)

Boil 4 chicken breasts and shred once cool
Chop 1 red bell pepper in to small pieces
1 can artichoke hearts (or about 1 cup)
1/4-1/2 cup homemade mayo
Yellow mustard to taste
Spices (onion powder, garlic powder)

Mix everything together and chill.  I plan on eating this as a small dinner while getting my hair done tonight.  You could eat this as a salad topping, by itself, as a side dish, in lettuce wraps...however you want!

BBQ Skewer Goodness

This one is simple!

Protein - pick whatever you want.  I like shrimp (with tail on) and scallops, both thawed.
Veggies - Again, pick whatever you want.  I used 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 orange bell pepper and mini portabella mushrooms I picked up at Costco
Flavor - I added pineapple chunks to add a little sweetness.  I also marinated the shrimp and scallops in lime juice (fresh) and black pepper.
Extra - I like to use Guacamole as a dressing, for pretty much everything, but especially this salad since the fat content is very low.

For simple cooking I keep all the veggies/fruit on their own skewers and put the protein on separate skewers.  I use the metal ones as they hold up better and don't require soaking.  So good, I could eat this every day!  Well so long as the protein source changed.

My breakfast still consists of a hash of some sort, eggs and sweet potatoes mostly.  Snacks include hard boiled eggs, tuna fish, fruit.  I still struggle a bit with late night snacking urges, but not nearly as bad as I used to!  I'm honestly excited to finish these next 15 days!  Thanks to my CFLO family, and husband, for being such a great support group through this!  Not sure I would have even attempted this if it wasn't for you!