Stress Ball

When you hear yourself say things like "I'm that poor, unfortunate soul" or "Wait, what? What's that??" ... "Well, I didn't know that, obviously…" and "It's just been a fiasco." along with "I'm just a little stress ball!" all in the same conversation, you know you're in some real, deep sh!t.

I rarely cuss so you know it's a big deal.  Also, it's especially humbling (Yes, I'll say humbling here) when you're saying those statements to someone on the phone whom you don't even know.  I mean, I literally started the conversation by introducing myself and saying that he'd never met me.  Furthermore, I'll have you know, it is a lot more difficult to coordinate things you need to get done or things you need to have arrive at a particular place at a particular time when you are physically going to be in five different states within five days.  Yes, that's correct.  Trying to predict where I will be sometimes is a feat in and of itself.   And that's no joke.

Ugh.  I used to being so on top of things!  I do not know what has happened.  I knew it could happen, this particular event, but blanked. Actually, I thought it would happen about a year from now, so I had plenty of time.  Then I got the email saying that it was around the corner…  Cue deer in headlights.  I didn't know what to do first!  I had waited too long and got to scrambling for things at the last minute.  I'm sure we can all relate.  Not good.  Ugh. 

At this point, I don't even feel like I should get what all the commotion is about, which is a promotion in  he Army.  I don't have my stuff together, so why should I be promoted?! 

For this particular scenario of trying to get my affairs in order, it felt like anything that could go wrong definitely did.  For starters, my uniform alterations were off.  Instead of taking out an inch in the waist, the lady took it in an inch!  I tried it on and said, this is a lot tighter... (I don't think I've gained that much weight!).  Then, as I was picking it up, I had to pee so bad because I had been driving for hours.  Of course the shop didn't have a "public" restroom, so my eyeballs were floating while I tried to focus and to understand a little Asian lady whom I felt was totally shanghaiing me (like highway robbery)!  If that weren't enough, I wasn't sure what the heck to get or where to get it.  The shop that was supposed to have everything most definitely did not.  The cherry on top was my mailing blunder -- picking the wrong shipping type so the package didn't arrive in time.  Wow.  Face palm.  I can't win. 

It's times and situations like this where I go back-and-forth on whether to just trust God or do everything in my power I possibly can to make things work.  I usually pick the latter.  I know I have to do my part for life to happen (like going through all the paperwork applying for a job because otherwise I don't have a chance of getting it) but I tend to rely too much on myself.  This reveals many things, such as the fact that I'm not perfect.  And I never will be.  It also shows that I'm human and need a Savior, Jesus' saving grace.  Every day.  Even though I've been a Christian for the majority of my life, I'm still in need of Jesus and the Gospel.  I always will be.  

Sanctification is a process; salvation is immediate.  I don't know if people realize this or not or if they realize the Christian life still isn't easy, but I guarantee you and am a living testimony that it is the best life!

It's because He gives me purpose, characteristics, values, and much more.  God also provides a solid foundation for my life; I can stand on His Word and promises since they are true and will all come to fruition.  He hasn't disappointed or dropped me yet, and He never will. 

I have to stop and think of truth from God's Word.  This isn't what I do first all the time but it should, because I always feel at peace when I give things to God and am reminded (or read) what He says.  Lately, I've been reading specific Psalms from a reading plan with my bestie.  The past couple days have been the following:

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing! 

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

And one of my most favorite :)

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge. 

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes; 

9 the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

12 Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

So good.  I just re-read verses for it's truthful assurance. 

Besides seeing my need to turn to God, this dilemma has definitely (oh most definitely) served to provide some poignant lessons.  One of which is to be on top of things and not wait until the last minute.  Another is that I should pay the exorbitant amount of money to have something shipped more quickly, if only for ease of mind.  Ha!

It's also shown me how I deal with stress or, rather, how I want to deal with stress.  I prayed, went out to exercise, problem solved after a few deep breaths, thought about the positives, and stated things I was grateful for.  It all helped. 

It's also shown me that people can be very helpful (thank goodness for solid go-to people and nice customer service people!), and I'd like to think that it's given me perseverance and strength and other good qualities but it's really just shown me I've slacked off.  Not at all one of my brightest moments.  Live and learn. 

If I haven't just taken off a good 10 years of my life by stressing so much by trying to coordinate a mission and in the process calling a billion people (some multiple times, asking the same questions -- highly annoying, I know), then I want to use what time I have left in life to be better prepared.   Or make more money to pay for the expensive shipping ;)  I'll also, Lord-willing, have many more years to give things to God, hear the Gospel, and to be more like Christ, not a stress ball. 

The Best Yes

My sweet friend from soccer way-back-when found me on FB and, at first, I wasn't sure who it was, so I didn't accept the friend request.  Then it donned on me after squinting at her name on the screen, "Oh!! Melissa!  Of course I accept!!"  Click. 

I'm so glad we reunited, for many reasons.  One being that we are more alike than I knew.  Another being that I hope I'm like her more often.  She is not only physically beautiful (think gorgeous smile and skin and striking hourglass figure) but also personality-wise beautiful (think personable, endearing, caring, honest, and Godly).  You want her to be your friend.  

She posts on social media, so I see into her life in this way.  It's encouraging to read what she says and does.  There's so much I relate to or think and do the same.  For instance, I, too, wanted to burst into tears on Easter, but it was because I missed my family, wanted to be with my best friend who was sick, and wasn't feeling too great myself.  Kinda selfish.  Thank goodness for technology, as my Mom texted me and my brother about a memory of the entire family singing at the top of our lungs the "Easter Song" by GLAD.  My brother sent the YouTube link to it, and we all exchanged more texts. 

Even though I dearly miss family and close friends, I was reminded in a church service that heaven is my home, for which I should long.  Then my friend's post hit me on several levels and reminded me to extend grace to myself and others (no one is perfect!) as well as the fact that Easter is not about religion but rather about a relationship with a living God, which encompasses love, grace, and healing, amongst many things.  And, although life holds sweet times and hard times, Christ is my best yes -- every day, no matter what. 

With her permission, I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did: 

"I am a very sentimental person.  I keep scribble pictures drawn for me from all the babies in my life.  I store blurry pictures on my phone from special occasions.  I keep tattered bracelets and crafts from friends.  I can't help myself, they're special because they came from special people.  Today on Resurrection Sunday *holding back tears* I am reminded yet again of the grace I accepted as a little girl.  The grace I continuously receive and honestly, somedays forget to accept.  My sweet Mom in love [to be] gave me this cross bracelet which I will cherish forever.  She gave it to me at Christmas before I was officially becoming part of the family.  All the women in their family have one.  And I am so honored and humbled to be a part of that group.  I love it because it is beautiful, but also because it reminds me of the grace that is available to me daily.  And it reminds me to give myself grace and to freely give grace to others.  I fall short in that department often.  I could go on and on about what the cross means to me and how it has made my life.  But I will just say this, there is no greater YES in my life than saying yes to Jesus.  It is not about religion, it is not about guilt or shame.  It is about love, and resurrection, and healing."

Life Hacks

A recent book buy was "Life Hacks" by Keith Bradford.  It is awesome.  It speaks on different areas of life like technology, party hacks, survival, health and fitness, and money savers.   So many fun facts to know and tell!  And most definitely put into use. 

I'll list several here with my thoughts/reaction.  Enjoy!  :)

#140  When it comes to staying awake, apples are actually more powerful than caffeine.

I basically have one a day!  No wonder I feel like I don't need coffee.

#144  Soak Oreos in half and half and laying them on wax paper in the freezer.  In an hour, each one will be a delicious mini ice cream sandwich.

Whoa.  Must do.  Yum!

#87  Want to make sure you wake up in the morning?  The snooze app for iPhone will donate to charity each time you hit the snooze button.

Dang.  I might become broke... or finally not hit snooze, ha!

#90  The "Along the Way" app gives you any cool attraction you can see along the way of any road trip.

Yes!  I've needed this!

#403  Lick a little salt with the tip of your tongue whenever you feel the urge to smoke.  This is said to break that habit within a month.

Not a smoker and don't plan on ever being one, but this is intriguing.  I need a guinea pig!

#619  Never sleep naked.  If there is some kind of emergency, it might be too late to put something on.

Boo.  

#593  Never asked someone how his or her job search is going.  It's going terribly until they tell you they got a new job.

Haha!  Truth.  I ask because I care but, since I'm job searching and also have in the past, I will refrain from asking and wait until they give me the good news. 

#755  Need to open a can of tuna can, but don't have a can opener? Just rub the top of the can on concrete for minute and then squeeze the sides in.  The top will pop open.

Uh, huh.  Right. 

#736  Homemade camping lamp: Strap a headlamp to a gallon jug of water.  Your tent will fill up with ambient light.

Cool. 

#539  Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 10 cents a gallon for gas.

Guess I'll be paying extra sometimes!  

#501  Target will price match Amazon.  If you find something cheap on Amazon, buy it at target instead and you won't have to wait for it to be shipped to you.

Who knew?!

#426  Putting vodka on your face tightens your pores and reduces the chances of acne breakouts.

Try that as an excuse as to why you have alcohol in your room, haha!  Flash back to RA days...

#444  Adding vodka to your shampoo can strengthen your hair, prevent dry scalp, and stop dandruff.

Sweet.  Okay, alcohol won some brownie points with this one. 

#356  Hungry and want a ride home?  Go to the local pizza shop, order pizza to your house, and get a ride home with the driver.

Haha!  Hmm, I suppose this could be a great trick if a date goes awry, too. 

#352  Runny or stuffy nose?  Push your tongue on the top your mouth and push a finger between your eyebrows.  Hold it for about 20 seconds.  Your nose should clear.

Yeah, definitely trying this in the comfort of my own home.  I can just see somebody walking into the office as I'm doing this.  Haha!  Oh, boy. 

#368  Instead of scraping ice off your car, try spraying it with a mixture of 2/3 cup vinegar and 1/3 cup water. The ice will melt right off.

Wish I had this when it was below 20° with the wind chill and I was out scraping in Iowa!!

#602  Want to watch a movie with a girl?  Ask her what her favorite movie is and say you haven't seen it.  She'll usually say, "We should watch it."

I'd suggest it.  Ha!

#606  If you ever need to stop and ask for directions, skip the gas station and find a pizza delivery place.  They know their way around town way better.

Note to self. 

#683  The phrase "Don't take this the wrong way" has a 0% success rate.

LOL  Yep. 

#696  When buying a romantic card, get two.  Write the inscription from card A into card B and pretend you can write sweet things.  Be sure to use with caution.

This is hilarious!!  But I don't advise.

#695  Good things come to those who wait, but greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything they possibly can to make it happen.

I'll just leave this right here.

#889  Clothes shrink too small?  Soak them in a mixture of hot water and hair conditioner for five minutes and then air dry them.

Wish I knew this growing up. 

#950  Play Tetris.  Playing Tetris can increase brain power by almost 150%. 

I must be at genius level because I played on the airplane from India!

#970  SelfControl is a program that blocks sites like Facebook, Twitter, and email for a specified period of time.  Using it will help you minimize distractions while you study or do homework.

Or just need a technology break in life!

#20  Swipe left or right on the iPhone calculator to delete the last digit, so you don't have to start all over.

It works!  Had no clue about this previously. 

#963  Stumped on a question or a math problem?  Lie down.  Your thought process is much faster when you're lying down, which is why you always lie down at psychiatrist appointments.

Think my boss will go for this?  "I need to lie down to think faster.  No, I won't fall asleep."  Famous last words.

Learning new things is fun, right?!  I recommend getting the book for more but hope you liked these!  

The Perfect Date

I recently saw this laugh out loud post listing date ideas for guys.  There were legit dates given, like mini golf, going out for breakfast, go-carting, attempting an escape room, and going to a concert/listening to music together.  There were also some cutesy ones, like playing with puppies and going to the beach (picnic maybe?!), and definitely some off-the-wall ones, like burning things and taking over Poland.  Haha!

This got me laughing, obviously.  Then it got me thinking that a guy doesn't have to do something super fancy every date.  Going to a show/sporting event, having an outdoor adventure, or watching a movie is acceptable in my book, as is cooking at home.  Don't get me wrong, guys, a woman likes and wants some thought put into what the date entails and a bit of fine living and dining ever so often -- think fancy restaurants and big ticket items from jewelry to weekends away!

Still, no lady will ever complain about flowers and chocolates or the like, sweet compliments, your effort, getting dressed up, and your complete attention :)

Whether it was a true date or just a delightful outing, I've done a lot of fun things in a lot of cities.  So, if I were in…

Fort Worth, TX
It's my home for now, so outings would be filled with some good friends (maybe the quintessential double date).  Putting on our boots for some two-stepping after licking our lips at Rodeo Goat or a place along Magnolia Street with all the yummy food choices.  However, I would definitely want to do a Chef's tasting at The Bastion at some point.

Rapid City, SD
I'd want to go do something outdoors -- kayak, ride a motorcycle, enjoy music downtown, or hike.  Somewhere in the mix, I'd want sushi and Silver Linings' epic ice cream!

Des Moines, IA
Hands down, I would want to visit the Raygun store to laugh our heads off!  We could then venture over to eat at the super delicious Tacopacolyse after window shopping downtown.  It definitely wouldn't hurt my feelings to grab a shake or tea and chat at Smokey Row.

Columbus, OH
If we went to the planetarium and then had a picnic outside, bliss.  There are just so many green spaces in Columbus that you couldn't go wrong!  My inner nerd would need to be fed by going to the COSI museum.

Knoxville, TN
Seeing the city on bikes and dining at The Tomato Head is a must.  There are plenty of offshoots from this awesome city to explore history, hear good music, go hiking or whitewater rafting, or just relax in a cabin in pure nature.

St. Louis, MO
Yes, I've seen a lot in this city, but The Arch is too iconic and full of history to miss.  There are a lot of good places to eat here, such as Pi Pizzaria, so it wouldn't be hard to choose something to check out.  As for other things to do, I think it be fun to pop into The Magic House because I haven't been since, well, I was a kid!

Austin, TX
Not too far from Fort Worth yet seemingly a world away due to its eclectic culture, outdoor adventures, and good eats, it'd be hard to mess up a good time.  Pick an adventure and a restaurant and go!  I think you could do this ad nauseam here and not get bored.

Norman, OK
The place I still feel is home because of my alma mater and sweet, close friends.  So, anything with said friends will win every time.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Throw in some sporting events and campus walks and you're golden.

Why am I telling you all this?  No, it's really not to help some guy out.  Guys can be creative and thoughtful; they'll be fine on their own.  It's also not to describe the "perfect date" because I don't think it exists.  Although, I think that notion might change when a guy is on one knee with some bling.

Seriously, I thought it would be a fun way to A) test a theory and B) describe some great places I've seen and could see myself living.  Oh, don't even get me started with international cities I'd live in!!

So, yeah.  I could see myself in Rapid City or Des Moines or even back in Norman.  Never would I ever had thought or said that a year ago for some of these destinations.

It really is amazing what travel does to you and for you.  Sometimes, it's just unexplainable how a city can grab you in such a short amount of time, how much is offered in one place, how home-sick one can get, or how much appreciation for what you left is truly in you.

I'm not quitting the travel gig until something solid is lined up, but I'll be looking for a FT job in these cities while keeping myself open to others, if the job is right.  We'll see what God does!

Whole30

My friend wanted me to join her in doing Whole30 for Lent.  I don't typically "do" Lent but I love my friend so I said sure without thinking.  Then I thought about it.  Still, I didn't back out because I thought my reasons were good enough to go through with it.  I've made changes to my diet over the years, some big and some small, but I've never cut out whole food groups because I don't think you should or have to [as a normal, healthy individual].  That said, I'm writing this post for me and about me.  Your experience, if you choose to complete Whole30 (more on that as part of the conclusion) will be completely different.  You can even read about my friend's experience here: https://www.thefenricks.com/blog/2017/3/30/i-survived-whole30-and-you-can-too  She's a brilliant and honest writer with a legit website!

This post is the play-by-play of each day with some needed edits.  I quickly jotted down my thoughts, sometimes all at once and sometimes in pieces.  I had an added challenge of sticking with Whole30 while traveling abroad in the middle of the month, so that was fun.  Not.  At least I throw in some fun stuff I did while in India.  My overall thoughts and findings are at the end.  I'd be more than happy to talk about it in another setting if you wish or have questions!

I will warn you that, if you don't like hearing about bodily functions (day 13 is definitely a LOL day for this!), this post isn't for you since I had some GI issues (nothing too graphic, just being honest).

Let's go!

Day 1:  

Wait, why am I doing this?  I can't have lentils??  I don't think I can do this.  I need more carbs for running and working out; this might end really badly.

Day 2:  

I'm hungry.  Talked with my friend, which helps, and at least I'm not feeling "hung over," have a foggy mind, or have headaches like the [Whole30] book says I might!  It's going to be okay.  Need to get some recipes and a bit of variety but that should be doable.

Day 3:
Less hungry and feeling more full after eating the same amount of food!  Didn't feel super great the whole day, however.  My eyes were watery as if from allergies, my stomach started hurting, and I had a lot of gas.  Ate the same food as the other two days but my poop is still real loose.  Found Larabars!

Day 4:
Didn't wake up feeling ravenous -- bonus!  Found Larabars the other day; they're probably going to save my life. Otherwise, uneventful day for me, while my friend was angry and had the "kill all the things" day like the book said.  Kill all the things, hahaha!

Day 5: 

Still can't really tell any difference other than my poop is loose, but I don't think I got enough calories in me before my long run yesterday.  Nose is still runny and stuffy, likely from allergies.  Did wake up with a very noticeable headache, so will try to drink more water today. Feel good at the end of the day.

Day 6: 

So far, today is in the only day that the book feelings have rung true.  I was so, so tired!!  I barely woke up for work, it seems.  I could've kept sleeping and sleeping!  Otherwise, doing fine.

Day 7: 

Still a little tired.  I'm feeling full a lot quicker and longer.  I know that's fiber doing its job but it's crazy how much I say that to patients and am now really experiencing it myself!  Had my first real craving for frozen yogurt today but didn't cave.

Day 8: 

I feel sluggish and foggy.  Not productive.  Ugh.  I didn't feel awake until at least 230pm!  After that, I was fine until bedtime, when I felt nauseous and a headache ensued.  Not sure that wasn't allergies from coming into NC...

Day 9: 

Still have a bad headache, and I ate "breakfast" (small salad) super early since I'm headed to India!!  Praying everything goes smoothly...  The gluten free option in flight was genius!  Getting grilled chicken with veggies was nice but not eating the delicious smelling pizza was super rough.  I didn't give in!  Buying nuts in the airport was a very good idea and scavenging for fruit in flight is a must.

Day 10: 

Yesterday was so long!  Almost never-ending, what with a 16 hour flight but we got to our destination!  The day kinda ran into the next but I survived again with a big buffet breakfast of basically protein.  On a good note, my headache subsided once we arrived in Dehli.

Day 11: 

Another big buffet breakfast got me through.  I just ate chicken at lunch; it was really, really hard to pass on naan bread.  I almost gave in.  But no.  I think I've survived the two toughest days, thank goodness!  I honestly don't think it will get that much easier.  I see foods I really want like frozen yogurt, naan, and some sweets.  But I haven't given in!  I'm eating a lot of protein, and I've also been super duper constipated the past couple of days!!  Never have I ever.  Ugh.  Haven't eaten as much fruits and veggies in the past couple of days just due to circumstances, so that probably has a part to play but still.

Day 12:
My dinner, which was the best meal I've had here so far, was spectacular!  Grilled fish with a spicy sauce that made it and vegetable kofta.  Yummy!

Day 13:
Constipation with a vengeance!  When I pooped at the end of the day, it was like all my insides were coming out, along with a lot of pain.  I kept replaying the memory of when I was growing up of my Dad unplugging the toilet saying, "How could SO much poop come out of such a tiny body?!"  Hahaha!!  But seriously.  No fun.  I'm eating veggies as much as possible and they're covered in yummy spices, but I've had hardly any fruit and a lot of protein (because, what's left?), so not much fiber :/  Nothing I can do, I feel... and I basically feel like I eat a ton at each meal since I'm not sure how much will be edible for me at the next one.

Day 14:
Today was absolutely terrible health-wise for me!!!  I got diarrhea (maybe from something I ate) but took a nap and felt a bit better.  

Side note: I definitely questioned whether to keep going with this Whole30 thing or not, especially right about now!  But...
Still sticking to the diet.  Still hard, especially as my options seem to be dwindling (as I think the watermelon did me in at lunch).  But now I'm almost afraid to start eating anything that I've cut out because I don't know if terrible symptoms will ensue!  I also have been doing it so long now I don't want to give up.
Thankfully, I felt well during my presentation despite feeling like death right before.  The talk was fun, and I think the Indian ladies liked it as much as me :)  Yay!

Day 15:
I'm eating whatever I can get my hands on that is seemingly on the diet.  For dinner, for instance, all the items but one were fried and all those fried items were potatoes.  The only thing that wasn't fried also contained potatoes.  I have to take what I can get, especially since I'm pretty hungry by the time we eat.  Ugh.  Another example, I had three bananas and five bites of chicken for lunch.  This has been the worst so far.  I'm trying to supplement with Larabars but I only have one for each remaining day :/  I also don't know what my bowels are going to do.

Day 16:
I didn't poop today.  I don't even know the last time that's happened!  No poop.  All day.  Crazy!  At 4am, when we got up for the early train, I pooped.  

Still sticking to the diet as able.  Had "ketchup" at lunch (1 pack) because the "chicken" nuggets were so dry.  Eating a lot of bananas and chicken.  The tandoori chicken at dinner was delicious and the "dry veg" was too, though it wasn't dry, ha!  The spices here create like a curry or sauce; tastes pretty good but it isn't dry as one would think it would come! 

Day 17:
What you need driving in India:  "Good horn.  Good brakes.  And good luck."  Hahaha!!  Too true.
I shared about what I'd learned in "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions" by John C Maxwell, and it went well!  After was a culture show with dancing and it was SO fun!!  Most joined in :)
As for Whole30, I feel full and bloated most the time :(  Probably the food/spices...  I hope it gets better.

Day 18:
We got up real early to see the Taj Mahal!!  It was spectacular.  Very impressive, though I could have skipped being packed like a sardine to see the tombs inside, ha!  Still, quite the experience.
I had a lighter breakfast, which helped with the bloated feeling, but it had no spice so...?  Nonetheless, I feel much better today.

Day 19:
Feel awful.  Stomachache, congestion, headache, gas, discomfort, etc.  Found tiger balm for headaches and used it, seemed to work.

Day 20:
I think I'm back to normal with GI stuff, I hope and pray.  I also feel like I'm on a normal sleep schedule which is great!  Right back to the whole30 with a salmon dinner last night and a salad with chicken today.  My friend says we should be feeling good for the rest of the time so that's encouraging!
I keep thinking of the things I want to add back like oatmeal, Greek yogurt, quinoa, and chocolate milk.  Really, I think I'm going to stick to eating this well all the time and just add back in things that I enjoy but are truly healthy and beneficial.  I'm going to try and continue to do gluten-free for about another month to test a theory of mine.  Also going to try and get more Larabars today for snacks, though I feel like I'm eating a ton of nuts!

Day 21:

It's much easier to eat the diet now back in the states.  Not trying to lose weight, honest, which is a good thing because I don't think I've lost a single pound.

Day 22:
Got a massage :)  Nothing crazy Whole30-wise.

Day 23:
Felt weird in the afternoon so I had a little more to eat and then felt fine.  Pooped once and have stinky farts.  Counted my calories just for the fun of it and found I was going to be pretty much in line for my daily allotment after exercise.  Feel full, so all is well.
I went to Sam's Club with a friend and was blown away with all the foods I'm not eating but really the fact that they're so full of sugar!  Some stuff I can do without completely, while a few things I wouldn't mind having on occasion like some chips, yogurt, or cheese.  I'll be adding those back in moderation.

Day 24:
I've made it this far!  Big breakfast today.  Tried to lessen my fat intake because I read that fat can give you gas but it was very hard.  I basically didn't do it because I have a Larabar at least once a day!

Day 25:
A lot less gas today for no known reason.  But I'll take it!  I feel as though I had the same amount of fat as I have been having each day and the same foods.

Day 26-29:
No real changes.  Gas and BMs are better.  Weirdly, I feel bloated before bed but then normal and slim in the morning.
Made a list of foods I want to add back and when.  I'm starting with gluten-free grains because I want sushi while watching the NCAA championship game, then I'll add legumes and dairy.  I bet sugar will be throughout since it's added to so much stuff!  Finally, I'll add back in gluten grains.

Day 30: 

Nothing.  No other events except thinking of what I'll soon be able to have and buying stuff to make paleo desserts!
My friend and I both agreed this was NOT easy but still, in a sense, fun :) It brought us together for sure despite the distance.

Day 31:
I can't believe the last day is here.  Hip-hip-hooray!  I know I could go on with it (and will with this reintroduction thing) but I'm looking forward to eventually having...
Chocolate
Chocolate milk
Oatmeal
Plain Greek yogurt
Brown rice
Quinoa
Corn
Black beans
Things with added sugar like salsa and seasonings
Peanut butter
No added sugar jelly
Lentils

So, I'm basically going to eat as I was before this thing, haha!  But definitely not as much added sugar or sweets, in general, while sticking to cooking the recipes (just adding brown rice, for instance). 

I reweighed myself and did the body fat assessment again (did it at beginning and end).  I lost 2.5 pounds in 28 days (4 weeks).  I think that's good since healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week and I wasn't trying to lose.  I was just trying to stick to the diet, exercise when able, and not feel too hungry!  Honestly, I probably worked out only 12 days during the month due to scheduling and life events, when I usually exercise 5 or 6 out of 7 days of the week.  Also, my body fat percentage went down the tiniest bit.  Definitely taking that!

One reason I was doing Whole30 was to cut whole food groups out because I've never done that ever, nor do I plan on doing it ever again.  I think certain products are healthful, like plain Greek yogurt or Kefir to brown rice or quinoa, and are perfectly fine in a balanced diet.  Another reason was to see if my headaches subsided.  They didn't.  On some occasions, they were actually worse.  What I didn't expect at all was my bowels to go through so much!  Yikes.  Everything is normal now, but the worst was definitely seen in India.  Speaking of travel, I felt limited in food choices and immediately seemed to have more options and time to cook different dishes once back in the States.  Definitely something to be thankful for and something I take for granted.  

This whole experience challenged me greatly to be more disciplined in what I ate from looking at labels I've previously seen but maybe only glanced over to saying no to things I love like peanut butter and yogurt.  Whole30 made me reach out to my friend (I would not do this without someone else!).  It also re-opened my eyes to all the added sugar in products and how much I was actually consuming in my "healthy" eating.  I had grown accustomed to saying things were okay to have, like sugary yogurt, chocolate, or a cookie, because I don't have it all the time and yogurt is still "healthy."  Well, anything healthy can become unhealthy, and anything you have occasionally can turn into a regular!  It's nice to get back on track.  It's also nice to look into a fridge full of delicious produce and not feel guilty for eating anything I've eaten in the last month while feeling completely full and satisfied!

I would only recommend the Whole30 to someone else if they have a buddy and have clear and tangible goals, such as "I want to be gluten-free for this month to see if my skin clears up."  This was the case for my friend and, as an added bonus, going gluten-free also helped with her joints.  So, she feels this lifestyle change is worth it and, important to note, sustainable for her.  I also wouldn't go into it with lofty expectations like you'll lose 30 pounds (I've heard this happening but the guy was quite overweight and working out a lot, so one should have specific goals and realistic expectations tailored to them, which is why I think seeing a Dietitian for nutrition and a Personal Trainer or Fitness Specialist for exercise is very important).  

In the end, I'm glad I completed Whole30 to be able to share my experience in the hopes it helps someone else in any way possible.  

SO much poop!!  Hahaha!!

Now to enjoy my sushi tomorrow night and the rest of my re-introduction phase!