This morning started with waking up to my husband already dressed in workout clothes, a banana for some energy, and a trip downstairs to the gym. I knew that if I didn’t work out in the morning, I would be too tired to later in the day – the main reason I always exercise early in the day. I scrolled through my phone to choose my podcast of the day – Bulletproof featuring Gabrielle Bernstein. For the past few months, I’ve been using the Kayla Itsines “Sweat” workout app. It’s been a game changer. I’ve always been a runner, so I’ve never struggled with cardio, but I’ve always hated lifting weights and doing any strength training. As my wedding was approaching late last year, I knew I wanted to tone up my arms. I remembered a few friends telling me about the BBG program, and what better time to do this than before my wedding? I invested in a three-month subscription. Surprisingly, I stuck to it. The app has a meal plan, a gallery to upload photos of yourself to track your progress, and a workout menu. Before the Whole30 I liked to eat what I wanted, and I am not millennial enough to take selfies and other photos of myself, so I’ve only used it for the workouts. The workouts are divided up into “resistance” which consists of 30-minute interval trainings for legs, arms, and abs that get harder every week, “cardio” where you record any cardio workouts, and “recovery” which includes various stretching exercises for different parts of your body. I love the trainings in “resistance.” It’s super easy to follow. In any given week, I usually don’t get to all three. Before my wedding, I prioritized abs and arms. Now I focus on abs and legs with ski season coming up. Today I did legs. I have been doing this program for over half a year now, and I can definitely see changes in my body. And more importantly, I feel stronger.

After my workout my husband cooked me scrambled eggs. He first made the jalapenos, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Then, in a separate pan, he cooked some chicken with “Acapulco Gold” seasoning. “Hmm it smells sweet. Are you sure this spice is Whole30-compliant?” I asked. “Yes, it’s fine,” he said grabbing the spice to read the ingredients list. His face slowly changed, from slightly irritated to concerned. “It has brown sugar in it.” It’s surprising how many foods and condiments have sugar in it. All of the bacon we saw yesterday at Trader Joe’s also had sugar. Not wanting to waste the perfectly good pieces of chicken, my husband assured me, “Don’t worry, I’ll eat it. I’ll make yours without the chicken.” The scrambled eggs were delicious, and we also ate a side of blueberries and raspberries. It was a perfect meal after an intense workout.

While still in my workout clothes, I vacuumed and mopped the floors while my husband washed the dishes and wiped down the kitchen counters. I was surprised at how energized I felt. This was a huge change from yesterday when I couldn’t do much of anything. Lunch was leftover Shepard’s Pie from last night, and salad greens topped with leftover roasted red pepper sauce. I can’t get over how much I love the Shepard’s Pie. And I absolutely love the roasted red pepper sauce. The meal was delightful, and I continued to go about my day feeling pretty good.

At a little before 3pm I started thinking about making myself a snack. For about an hour, I debated whether to make mashed potatoes or not. We had just gotten ghee last night for the Shepard’s Pie, so we had the ingredients, and it was simple to make. But should I just wait until dinner? Just then, I noticed my husband taking out a handful of cashews from the food pantry. “I was going to make mashed potatoes. Interested?” I asked. “Yeah, I’ll have some,” he said. The mashed potatoes were a success. It’s funny – I never appreciated potatoes before going on the Whole30. I always thought they were too filling, bland, and just plain mushy. If there were potatoes on my plate, I would often take a bite and leave the rest. But now, I appreciate how they taste and how full they make you feel.

Dinner again was fun to make. We cooked the classic chili and the broccoli, mushrooms, and yellow squash with red pepper sauce, both straight out of the Whole30 book. The first bite of chili was strange. The lack of beans sent a signal to my brain that something wasn’t right. But after a couple of bites, my taste buds took over and my brain finally understood that it was actually really good. I even had seconds. The recipes in the book have been impressive so far, and there hasn’t been a single one we don’t like.

Today was a good day. I felt good. I felt clear. I did however feel extremely thirsty throughout and still do. I’m assuming this is because of the low-carb diet.

The Whole30 is reminding me to be mindful of not only my food but also my thoughts. Getting ready in the morning: “I’m too lazy to wear makeup today. It’s too cold out and we’ll probably stay in all day anyway. Wait, I do it when I go out with my friends or have a business meeting. But isn’t my husband the one I want to impress most?” Relaxing on the couch this afternoon: “I should really continue to read my book right now. But I want to catch up on all of my favorite blogs. What do I truly feel like doing right now? Read the blogs! It’s Sunday; do what you want!” Preparing dinner in the evening: “He just spilled water on the floor. And there’s an onion on the floor again. Do I point this out and irritate him, or does this not really matter? No, it really doesn’t matter.” I’m having rational conversations with myself in my head, and it’s helping me get closer to the version of myself I want to be. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.