Labels are for Merchandise, Not People

So tomorrow is my Day 30 of the Whole 30.  I was going to go 90, but after last night's epiphany, I realized that I don't have to take this to the extreme.  The challenge was for 30 days and I finally, admittedly on the third attempt, successfully completed it.

I am quite proud of myself.

Now, I know it ends tomorrow and some people might say, "Well aren't you speaking too soon?  What if you go out tomorrow and eat an entire ice cream store or bakery?"

Does this include the employees? Because if so, I could reason that is is partially paleo. 

Kidding. 

But seriously, it would be.  That is a pretty decent amount of protein.

In all honesty, I don't want to put a label on myself as to what type of eater I am, be it Paleo or Zone or Sugar Britches...I. Just. Want. To. Eat. Clean. Food. 

If I feel like I want to indulge, I am going to and I am going to do it without regret or guilt.  I will be cognizant of my choices and savor them when I so choose.  Because of this experience with the Whole30, I feel strong enough to do that now.

The Whole30 has helped me to change my attitude about food because during the Whole30 I realized how I approached it.  I put myself at an unfair advantage and gave power to the food.  How stupid is that? 

I have taken the control back and now I am working on mixing in flexibility.  I am striving for that balance. 

Gray.

I really have no issues with the way I have been eating this past month.  The only things I may decide to change are to eat less red meat and more fish, up the veggie and salad load, and maybe add in some oatmeal. 

I don't really miss grains necessarily, but I kind of feel in my heart of hearts that strict paleo is not the best choice for my performance.  I have felt sluggish in my WODs and my times have been suffering.  I haven't gained much strength or any endurance; I never got the "kick" I mentioned waiting for in an earlier post. 

But the best thing about completing this program is the I CAN RECOGNIZE THAT. 

I really did learn a lot about my attitude towards food in the past month.  I thought I knew before, but now I have a deeper understanding of my perception and emotional attachment/attribution towards it.  Once it clicked, I felt free.

It was pretty liberating. 

Therefore, I don't want to pigeon hole myself into categorical eating.  I don't want a label.  I don't want to be on any plan or diet. 

I am going to just eat clean, add things in slowly, one at at a time and seriously evaluate how my bod reacts. 

If it is poop, then I won't eat it anymore.  If it makes me feel good or doesn't adversely affect me in any noticeable way, then I see no reason that I shouldn't allow myself to eat it if I want to. 

I like this new gray-titude.  It is pretty sweet.  But not made with sugar.


Foodie for today:

M1:  Papaya ( I was in a hurry so I had some before the office and had the rest of my bfast there)

M2:  Apple, Baked Chicken leftovers, Small can Black Olives

M3:  Salmon, butternut squash, and a steamed combination of purple cabbage and zucchini

M4:  Raw Almonds, Boiled Plantain

M5:  Baked Chicken Breast (leftovers), Strawberry and coconut milk smoothie

M5:  Sweet Potato, Apple,  3/4 Boiled Plantain with coconut milk and cinnamon

I had a lot of fruit today. 

I did go to the gro sto and picked up a couple items:  2 containers of baby spring mix (perfect container size for a salad and it is portable, so double score), cucumber, celery, purple cabbage, and bananas.

Looking forward to finishing up my 30 days tomorrow.  I can't wait to TESTIFY!