We are in the HOMESTRETCH, people! Closing in on the finish line and I’m excited to successfully finish a Whole 30 for the first time. I’ve successfully survived another week of new student lunches, welcome receptions, etc. without so much as a glance at the sweets and savories I would have loaded a plate with last year at this time. My boss and her husband jumped on the Whole 30 bandwagon a couple weeks after I did. So, in solidarity with her efforts, I’m going to remain Whole 30 compliant at work when we are together until she is finished.

Yesterday (Day 27) , we had boxed lunches for our new students. I had to deconstruct the sandwich to eat it because it was made on a buttery croissant.

Luckily, the lunch also included an apple–the Sun Chips and chocolate chunk cookie were not eaten by me.

My 10-year-old was quite impressed with her after school snack, however.

I was alone in my office with a croissant and a chocolate chunk cookie and I didn’t even so much as lick them. That’s an accomplishment for me, honestly. I’m the person whose brain usually rationalizes things with, “Well, you’re by yourself and no one will really know that you ate the WHOLE thing. I mean, if you only eat part–you’re going to have to figure out to do with the remaining part…might as well just eat it all.” That’s never a good look, trust me.

That leads me to my fear [for lack of a better word] of what happens AFTER the Whole 30 ends. I definitely can’t go back to just doing and eating whatever I want whenever I want. I’ve lost over 10 pounds [shhhh. I weighed myself a couple times. Okay, about every day.] and I want to keep losing. Now that my schedule at work isn’t so ridiculous, I can incorporate actual exercise, so I know that the possibility to lose continues.  I also think this is a great time to continue learning about Paleo and being more Paleo than not in my daily life.

I enjoy trying new recipes and finding new favorites. I never feel more accomplished then when I have planned several meals in a row and I can whip up dinner [or come home to it in a slow cooker] in a flash. Both my girls have said there is no way we can [or should] go back to eating the way we were prior to August. Lots of processed stuff, take out, and restaurant fare. Expensive in more ways than money.

I feel so much better and I enjoy eating without having negative impacts in my body immediately after the meal concludes. Now that I’ve made it through the Whole 30, I guess I see Paleo as less restrictive in some ways. And, because I refuse to go back to willy nilly eat whatever is in front of my face again, I think this is a good way to go. Honestly, I don’t think grains and I get along, so we’ll see how that goes too.

It’s been cool so far. I plan to finish strong!