Maintaining Not Gaining: The Party Plan

Maintaining Not Gaining:

The Party Plan

So we all know it's coming. No--actually--it's here. I'm sure by now you been to a multitude of holiday parties, with only more on the horizon. Having trouble passing on the hors d'oeuvres? Afraid to turn down the glass of egg nog your boss handed out? Regretful about taking that third helping of Mac & Chee? Well, don't worry! You can still get things back in order and make the choices that make you feel better, not worse! Because this time of year is suppose to be about happiness, cheer, joy, and that malarkey! So let's not make poor food choices put a damper on our holiday fun!

I'm here to  be your Jiminy Cricket with a quick list of tips to keep in mind at your next holiday soirée!  Take all the rules with you or cherry pick your favorites. Just know that you're not hurting anyone's feelings if you don't taste all of the pies at the table or if you turn down a third glass of hooch. You've got this all under control...I promise!

#1. Get Your Veggies in First.

"Research suggests that you’ll consume the largest quantity of the foods you eat first, so set yourself up for success by starting with something low-calorie," according to EatingWell.com. Meaning, if you book it over to the veggie tray first, you can save yourself up to 120 calories per serving. Try to go easy on the dip, too. We're not being Whole28.5-kind of clean...you are still allowed to have a dessert later on!

#2. Don't Let Grandma Pour Your Drink.

Meaning, make sure someone who can keep a good eye on the ounces is in charge of the pour. A quick count of "1-2-3" when pouring yourself a glass of wine, will get you the average 5-6 ounce glass of wine. Think halfway is a good estimate? Let's be real, most glasses are larger than we perceive.

#3.  Leave the Trimmings for the Tree.

There will surely be so many options, why not keep your full plate "clean." Take it easy when adding cheese, butter, dressings, gravy, and whipped cream. I'm sure you're still going to thoroughly enjoy the holiday treats even without the extra calories.

#4. Hydrate in between "Hydrating."

Oooooh, you know what I mean. In between your glass of wine or holiday cocktail, make sure to down a full glass of water, too! Trust me, it will keep you happily full without having to ban yourself from the bar the whole night. Also: not having a hangover the next morning is superb.

#5. Stick to Your Regularly Scheduled Eating Routine.

This one is important. Just because you know that you have a party in the evening, doesn't mean you should skip your other meals during the day to "save up the calories." Later that night, we'll find you under the dinner table,  elbow-deep in the candied yams gently weeping. That's not cute.  Stick to your usual breakfast, maybe a light lunch, and do yourself a favor: have a healthy snack before you go out. Make it some veggies and we're already using Rule #1.

Easy enough, right? And be sure to mingle! Tell stories, laugh with friends and family, play the silly game that you know Aunt Sally will force you to join. This time of year is for more than just food -- it's for the time we get to spend together. Awwww shucks.

I truly hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and making happy memories. I, for one, am  so very happy to have you on this healthy-journey with me.

Until our next installment....

You are doing awesome.

-Be Cool, Soda Pop-

Maintaining Not Gaining: Everything is Going to Be All Right.

Maintaining Not Gaining: 

Everything is Going to Be All Right.

All right, my friends...we've made it through the first week of December. Hanukkah has begun and the laundry list of Holidays to follow are nipping at our heels. Also, my birthday was on Friday, so there was no way I was going to act like a responsible eater until after I had me some CAKE. 

Girl has got to have priorities.

This can be a busy, stressful, joyous, indulgent, chaotic, sleepless,  wonderful perfectly/not-so-perfectly organized mess of a time! We have learned in the past that all of these feelings and factors can have us looking to our comfort foods and quick-fix treats to make us feel better. We've just made it through The Whole28.5 Challenge and we have a handful of awesome HABITS in our arsenal to help us from diving directly into Santa's Cookies after demolishing the casserole of candied yams. But just because we made it through a Challenge...doesn't mean this time of year isn't challenging! Now is the time that we could all probably use a little reminder here and there to keep us on track, as well as a pat on the back when we've done something good for our bodies. 

Thus, I introduce to you this new helpful series:

Maintaining Not Gaining!

Said with a smile.

A short and sweet series of suggestions, tips, and motivations to get us all through the holidays. These posts will be intended to give you a little boost of knowledge or strength when you're preparing for those holiday parties, making dinners, and baking your buns off for the season! Thoughts and strategies for your daily eating as well as your party etiquette. We're going to get through this together, and when that New Year's Baby wails us awake into 2016, we won't be working off the pounds of the past few weeks.

So let's start easy today.

Maintaining Not Gaining Tip #1 - Don't Throw Meal Prep Out The Window

We worked so hard during The Whole28.5 Challenge mastering the magic that is The Meal Prep. To this day, cooking for the week is my Suit of Armor.  It asks me to be strong, intelligent, and mindful of what I intend to put in my body for the week and make the choice AHEAD OF TIME to eat well. Not to have those "well, there's nothing to eat..." moments of weakness. Because trust me, once that meddling little thought pops into my brain, its SO hard to stay on track.

So don't derail the train before it's left the station, if you know what I mean! Get your head, your menu, and your plans in order. Yes, things may deviate. But your path will stay far truer, if you start out with the right directions.

Sunday, even after birthday debauchery, I made sure to prep up chicken thighs, sautéed broccoli, green beans with leeks, taco meat, and sausage with peppers, onions, and sauerkraut. BOOM. We are going to disregard the French Toast I made us for breakfast...that was still within "birthday weekend."

To that point...I have no photos of food prep, but I do have this before and after:

It was birthday, ya'll.

Until next time, remember:

Guys, we're doing awesome.

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

Please submit your "Holiday Homeostasis" tips, suggestions or stories, as a comment here on the blog or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

Tire Flips & Tree Pose: Keeping It Real.

Tire Flips and Tree Pose: Keeping It Real.

Where Do We Go From Here?

We've made it through The Whole28.5 Challenge and we conquered our first Mega Meals outside of "the rules" (Oh, I know you did!), and then we were introduced back to reality. 

So really, where do we go from here? 

My response:

GO DO SOMETHING AWESOME.

Getting away from the everyday was a BIG necessity for me. So we went hiking in the mountains of West Virginia. Wait, let me clarify: we went hiking in the West Virginia landscape that included basically a frozen-winter-windswept-tundra, gorgeous-sunny-meadows of color-goodness, awful-disastrous-glorpy-watery-bogs,  and an icey-cold-(glowing-eyes-deer)-demon night in our tent that I rigged up like a baked potato. It was AMAZING.  Seriously, this was a completely perfect experience. It was arduous and athletic, but also relaxing and beautiful. It was exactly what I wanted a needed. Time where we are away from all the damn screens. No computers, no phones (okay, we totally used our GPS while hiking, but neither Scott or I are very geographically gifted!), no distractions, no work. Just time to be tough and badass, while we enjoyed the magic-nonsense that was the backdrop of our hike. Hours of walking and talking, or happily and easily trekking in silence to just take things in our surroundings. The super hard work that is scouting your campsite while getting caught knee-deep in bog water after your legs are already toast; or tag-teaming camp setup with pitching the tent, making a fire, and setting up dinner. Just doing. REALLY DOING. Hanging out with the man I love, the greatest guy I've ever met. (I know, GROSS.) It was the perfect ending to The Whole28.5 Challenge.

Oh, crashing completely into the hotel room afterwards where we ate everything and watched two Lord of the Rings movies and went to bed by 7pm.

So let me repeat: GO. DO. SOMETHING. AWESOME. 

If that's hiking in late November. If that's a much needed spa day. If it's putting together an amazing Thanksgiving Dinner. If it's just getting out and doing something different, DO IT. Take a day. Take two days. Trust me, I now work 3.5 jobs...I have NO free time, but I got out. You should, too.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Is she just leaving her newly formed HABITS behind??"

Awwww, hell no! On our journey home, we stocked up on our lean meats and veggies and right after ditching our disgusting hike-laundry directly into the washer, I set to cooking and meal prep.

Chopped Salads and Raw Veggies.
Sautéed Broccoli.
Baked Chicken Thighs.
Yellow Squash Noodles.
Baked Chicken Breast in a Homemade-Slapdash Lemon-Leek Sauce.
Turkey Meatballs.
Crockpot Pork Shoulder and Sauerkraut.
Spinach egg cups (Thank you, Scott!)
BOOM.

And I'm happily finding my groove as Bootcamp Coach at CrossFit Novem. Legit,  I love our athletes who make it in bright and early at 6am, or book it to the gym right after work to get in their fitness. It's amazing and inspiring! And the BIG NEWS:

Starting in December, I will be Novem's Yoga Teacher for Movement & Mobility.

I'm excited to work to bring this program back to life and inspire our members to WOD another day with strong and limber bodies. My work is truly coming together. This is awesome.

I wish you all a delightful Thanksgiving Dinner, where yes, you can enjoy the foods you love and all the traditions your family observes on this holiday. But moderation is the name of the game. If you ALWAYS have sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and nonsense, be my guest! But seriously...you can probably skip the second serving. Have some Brussels sprouts. They are delicious.

We're not leaving The Whole28.5 Challenge behind, we're taking the HABITS with us into a new way of every day eating. Stick around for the blog's next series:

NO, IT'S NOT!!!

Maintaining Not Gaining Thru New Year's Eve 

Because Winter is Coming. 

And so are cocktails. 

And Pie.  

Until then, Turtles:

You are awesome.

SHARE YOUR STORY! Please, feel invited to drop a comment here on the blog, send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole28.5: How You Like Me Now?!

The Whole 28 and a Half: How You Like Me Now?!

Tell It Like It Is, Girl.

Okay, it's Results Day. And YES, there are results! Results in my body, my brain, and m'heart, everyone! But before we get to the news, let's just reach back to those original goals:

Bust/Chest: 40"

Waist: 31"

"Waist above Hip": 35"

Hip: 38"

Bicep: 12.5"

Thigh: 23.5"

Weight: 159.6 

Initial High Hope Goals

1) Maybe dropping 2-3 pounds

2) Keep track of the effects on my skin and energy levels

3) Stick to our planned weekly workout schedule

4) Learn to enjoy a hell of a lot of water!

5) At least retain one new, lasting, healthy habit from this!

And here we are now,  after the foodie fun of The Whole28.5 Challenge:

Bust/Chest: 39"

Waist: 29.5"

"Waist ^ Hip:" 33.5"

Hip: 36.5"

Bicep: 13"

Thigh: 21"

Weight: 157.2

High Hope Goals ACHIEVED!

1) Dropped 2 pounds. BOOM!

 However, over the course of The Whole28.5 Challenge I realize that this became FAR LESS important.

2) Energy and Skin.

Through this challenge I've been very aware of my energy levels when it comes to my Eating/Working/Gym schedules. And HOLY SMOKES, I learned a lot about what I force my body to handle in a day. Outside stressors are out of my control (sadly...) so it was empowering to learn that taking control of what I eat, how I sleep, and working out helped me find equilibrium.

*Skin: this has been an interesting bit of research. Back in the day, I had awesome baby doll skin, and then I became an adult and that all went to sh*t. RUDE. But I learned that kicking the crap has helped to keep dumb acne at bay.. In particular, I found that getting in a butt-load of water helps tremendously! Also: I learned the second I let myself have a big helping of cheese and/or fried foods (ooh, French Fries, you dirty devils!), I can expect a breakout.

3) Water, Water, Everywhere...

See above. I did it! And really, this is no longer a chore. I have a bottle of water with me no matter where I go. Two if I know I'll be out of the house for a while. And now, I can tell immediately when I'm dehydrated, when before I would blame headaches, cramping, and fatigue on a million different things. 

4) HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE WIN!

I couldn't be more thankful for this whole process because of the habits I'm walking away with! Water intake, macro-tracking, "Seeing the bigger picture," and learning what it means to actually need to eat for fuel...not to "feel better" or soothe myself.

Seriously: Mind Blown.

I have to let you all in on a little secret: I'm in NO WAY above the aesthetic benefits of a Clean Eating Challenge. The Whole28.5 Challenge has brought so many good things into my life, but I was hoping--with all my fingers and toes crossed--that there would be some kind of body composition change. I want to feel good, but let's face it, I want to look good, too.  Especially, because the number on the scale is going to continue to rock both down and up. That's just the nature of my life. I'm not looking to for it to elevate dramatically, but it's inevitable that I will have heavier days as well as lighter ones. So seeing that my MEASUREMENTS changed was a big plus!! I'm a naturally busty gal, will some hips on me, so it's always been a struggle pulling weight"visually" off my body. But I do think this helped to jump start some goodness!

There are TWO big things that I can actually see and "feel" these days and I have clean eating to thank for it.

#1. The bloat and fluffiness that I've always had to deal with around my hips and low belly have been the bane of my existence for...well, LIFE. But it seems pulling out some of those more inflammatory foods helped tremendously, as these areas have smoothed out significantly!
#2. My gams. I didn't really change up my workout schedule dramatically (I did make sure I was consistent, but I've been working out religiously for quite some time), but for some reason, the muscle tone in my legs (Quads and Hammy-Town, to be specific!) has finally become easily recognizable. And it wasn't until I finally broke down and started examining photos of myself that I let myself see it. And these days, legs and buns are my jam! As I like to say with my head coach Lesha at CrossFit Novem: "Every season is Glutes season!"

Even just in comparison of these two photos, I can finally see myself getting "tighter" and "smoother." I can't help the fact that I only seem to be getting more translucent, though....
SPF 50 FOR LIFE!!

So my beautiful little butterflies: congratulate yourself on making it through an arduous adventure of food and fitness! Check in with your initial goals and pat yourself on the back for those achieved, while setting your sights on getting to those that are still in the works. Take another photo of yourself and see what you've done! And seriously remember:

Guys, we are awesome.

SHARE YOUR STORY! Please, feel invited to drop a comment here on the blog, send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole28.5: The Finish Line!

The Whole and a Half : The Finish Line!

Go On, Brush Those Shoulders Off!

And here is your moment of celebration:

You guys are awesome.

Be cool, Soda Pop.

The Whole28.5: Final Feelings!

The Whole28.5: Final Feelings!

It's the Last Day, Homies.

We made it all the way to the end. Once we hit 11:59 pm tonight tonight, we will have officially made it through 34 days of The Whole28.5 Challenge. I'm still blown away by how quickly these last two weeks went by! The beginning was such an interesting mesh of fun and hardship, learning new things and ditching old ways, but the second half of this journey has actually been eye-opening and "easy." Of course, I'm no angel and there were the moments of "whoospie-daisy!" and "oh man, I hate this!" but the HABITS ARE HERE and I intend to hold on to them even after Saturday morning arrives and the rules are no longer "mandatory." No matter what those goals you may have set at the beginning of this whirlwind, I'm positive that new ones popped and and were achieved along the way without you even knowing it! So: High fives all around!

Challenge Shout-Out: To Everyone!

Congratulatory
"thumbs up while walking home from work"
Selfie. ;)

This is a big one for me. I really need to thank everyone who has been a part of this process. Those amazing participants who have shared with me recipes, success stories, photos, and even just the helpful, commiserating "hey, how's it going??" that helped me through this challenge. But also, to the friendly folk who may not be tagging along to participate, but have been here reading my nonsense for the past month. On the days (read: weeks) I was frustrated, when the scale jumped back and forth, when I couldn't even LOOK at another chicken thigh, I would walk into the gym and hear that a fellow member and friendly face was reading my blog. And to those folks whose faces are unknown to me! The many people who have reached out via my Instagram post reminders that a new entry had arrived was truly awesome and inspiring! I know that at times diets, lifestyle changes, new extraordinary goals can seem like something you have to "suffer through" in solitude, but having a community that knows what you are doing and supports you through it makes all the difference! There's no "suffering through it;" there is enduring, learning, sharing and succeeding. So from the bottom of my wee heart, I just have to say again:

Thank you. 

Savvy Suggestions

Okay, I know at this point in the game, it's very possible that you have a whole day planned tomorrow of dairy-filled, gluten-heavy debauchery! And that's okay. You deserve it...as you know if you allowed yourself to two "Live Yo Life!" days, that you will suffer the after effects accordingly.  If this is the plan, I have a two suggestions:

A) Revisit and update your Goals, Stats, and Photo either tonight or FIRST thing in the morning tomorrow.
The last thing you want to do is go through 34 days of hard work, have a ridiculous cheat day, and then weigh yourself and take photos when you're bloated and feeling awful. If you're going to funky town tomorrow, remember that--yes--you will probably gain weight and retain water, yadda yadda yadda. But you will normalize again once you get back to into the swing of the HABITS that you've decided to keep. *Wink wink.*

B) Maybe, juuuuust maybe, choose to indulge in something...not so insane?
I know, I'm stealing the glory already! I just don't want to see all of our hard work get thrown for a loop! Now, listen: I can't tell you what to do, and I won't! But maybe starting slow and working in some indulgences that are still TRYING to be "cleaner." I'm looking forward to trying these two bad boys:

Deep Dish Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two

Death by Chocolate Blender Brownie

What can I say? I find myself missing the sweet stuff and these are some damn good photos. Always gets me!

And that's really it for now, friends! I'm so very proud of all of our hard work and the eye-opening process that The Whole28.5 Challenge was for me. And I hope for you! I'm going to let you enjoy your weekend of freedom and I will come back to you with MY updates on Monday.  Now, let's say it together:

Guys, we DID awesome.

Neither Sam nor Reuben participated, but they are really proud of all of us. 

 Share your stories with a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole28.5: Three, Two, One...

The Whole28 and a Half: Three, Two, One...

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!

(Be sure to pump up this jam multiple times in the next three days...)

For today's post, with just 3 days left... at this point, it's more like 2.25 days... I'm just sending out support, encouragement, and the "we're still in it together" spirit to get us through Friday! So can I get a "Hell yeah?" HELL YEAH!! Keep up the amazing work and tune in tomorrow as we prep for the weekend. And just for fun, I'm sharing  a recipe of my meal success from the The Whole 28.5 Challenge!

If you have any questions, concerns, stories to tell, PLEASE feel free to share! You can comment here on the blog, send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Magic Mini Turkey Meatloaves

In true Rachel-fashion, this recipe is all kinds of slapdash, but I've honed it throughout The Whole28.5 Challenge and it shall continue to be my "go-to" for a healthy, comfort food recipe that is easily portioned out into a quick snack or a full portion!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

The Magic Mirepoix!
(The veggie filled flavored boost that adds to the volume as well as the taste.)
- Tbsp Olive Oil
- a pile of chopped carrots
- a much larger pile of chopped onions
- a handful of chopped celery, if you have it...or,

Totally a pro photo, but mine basically look like this...

- a big ol' concoction of any and all of the vegetables you have left in the fridge, my favorites being: yellow, orange and red peppers, broccoli and mushrooms.
- S & P, to taste.

1) Sautée this nonsense.
2) Then, pop into a bowl (or more likely some Tupperware) to cool and set aside.

Saucy Sauce
Harken ALL THE WAY BACK to our Day Two post for the recipe for:
Tangy Tomato Sauce
- Plus an ever-changing amount of Worcestershire Sauce

1) Starting when you being cooking up the veggies, mix in a small sauce pan.
2) Keep on super low and try not to forget about this as you move through the rest of the recipe.

Now for the Bowl of Meat.
- Package of Ground Turkey (ours is usually pretty massive -- enough for 2 full muffin pans!)
- 2-3 cloves of chopped Garlic
- a few finger pinches of the following herbs: onion powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, S & P (your general "Italian Seasonings Mix" works wonders, as well!)
- an egg

1) Plop all of the stuff above in a mixing bowl.
2) Grab cool bowl of mirepoix and add to bowl of meat/herb/egg pile.
3) Use your hands and mix together in the most uncomfortable way.
4) Spoon into muffin pan holes.

Finally, Icing the Cake.
1) Spoon Saucy Sauce onto your individual raw meat muffins.
2) Slide muffins trays into 350 degree oven.
3) Check on them every once in a while, pulling out to rest when they have a little more bounce when poked with a fork (ie. not squishy in the middle!)

Voilà!

The Whole28.5: Just a Work Week Left

The Whole 28 and a Half: Just a Work Week Left

Monday Memories

It's our Fifth and Final Monday of The Whole28.5 Challenge. So many Mondays waking up with new motivation from a week of success, or with new resolve after a possible snafoo or two. That First Monday when we were full of anticipation of how this was all going to work. That Second Monday when we were sleepy and grumpy and thinking this would never end. And now we are here at The Last Monday and we're completely in the rhythm, we've mastered our grocery lists, and we couldn't care less about cheese (okay, well we care a little bit about cheese...). So let's have a thought about the future:

"Breaking the Fast"

In just a few short days, we will be reintroducing ourselves to an unrestricted eating world. Fried foods, Oreos, and frozen daiquiris once again at our fingertips. Okay, hopefully that isn't exactly the menu that's waiting for us on Saturday, but we will no longer be held within the confines of The Whole28.5 Challenge. And yet...haven't these "Rules and Regulations" transformed into some pretty decent habits by now? I have a feeling that a good deal of this challenge is going to hang around for the long haul. I am totally down for this. But JUST IN CASE your reintroduction to "The Noms" is going to be a little more rough and tumble, I just thought it would be a good idea to lay out some pointers for when we all "break the fast."

- Remember: the transition back into your normally-scheduled-diet is almost as important as the whole Challenge itself!
Instead of going "all out" on Day 35 with a milkshake, cheesesteak and martini, why not make this a more gradual process, where if you intend to reintroduce foods like dairy or grains, start small with one serving a day. Also, this is a really good way to test sensitivities! Now that you've "cleaned house," if you pop a sandwich on your menu this Saturday and find yourself bloated and crampy, you might realize that gluten doesn't really do you right. The same with dairy! Who knows! No matter what, it's best to take these steps slowly so as not to derail the hard work on The Whole28.5. 

- DON'T ditch the water!
This one is pretty epic. I know that for a lot of people, drinking water isn't their favorite thing. But hopefully, we've worked hard to get in our water quota every day to the point where it's second hand now! But if you intend to put more carbohydrates (besides your fruits and veggies!) back on your plate, remember that they are "water suckers" and you will need to keep that H2O flowing!

- Be patient, honest, and kind to yourself.
Yup, that sounds pretty squishy, I know. But this one might be the most important tip. After completing an elimination-style kickstart like The Whole28.5 Challenge and allowing yourself to re-indulge in your trigger foods, inflammatory foods, and especially "unhealthy foods" (I'm not going to stop anyone from digging into those Buffalo Wings or Chocolate Ice Cream if that is what you need to do!) can lead to sugar/carb hangovers, water retention, weight gain and even a repeat of the Carb-Flu from the beginning of the Challenge. Don't beat yourself up and don't think you've thrown the past 34 days out the window. You'll throw those HABITS back into action and be right as rain in no time. ;)

HABITS not RULES!

There will always be chicken thighs...

We have a few more days left to plan our re-entry, but I'm 100% positive that we don't need prep time! We've created a whole new eating lifestyle. And guys, it's awesome.

If you have any questions, concerns, stories to tell, PLEASE feel free to share! You can comment here on the blog, send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole28.5: Last Week...Wow.

The Whole28 and a Half : Last Week...Wow.

Week Five. Boom.

At this time, may I welcome you to this new relationship with food!

On this beautiful Sunday morning, I quietly scamper downstairs (because even though it's my "day off," I'm up before 7am...) to start this final week of the challenge on the right foot. Upon making it to the kitchen, I realize we are completely out of coffee. NEVER FEAR! I'm not dependent on any food or beverage to  start my day. A full glass of water and some time free of puppy madness. It's the perfect time to reflect on the fact that I' have made some awesome new habits in the past few weeks. 

As fanciful as a big' ol' stack of pancakes could be right now at a relaxing and possibly gluttonous Sunday brunch, I'm far more excited for a power boost of eggs and turkey sausage to get me through lifting at the gym later this morning.  Because that's really what's going to help me out. This is me using food to power my day, not "improve" it. That's my job with every choice I make, from not letting it frustrate me that we were out of coffee at 6:45 in the morning, to going to the gym and taking care with my body, to spending time with my fella today before he hops on a plane tomorrow and it's just me and the mongrels for a few days. New habit: Seeing the bigger picture. 

Leveled UP.

Today is just a short post to wish you well on these last few days and to get us to start recognizing these new HABITS we've created and how we intend to incorporate them back into "regular life" once The Whole28.5 Challenge comes to a close. I promise to provide plenty of information and references to help us along with that process! 

Reading Assignment for the Win

Let's revisit this article over on The Whole30.com about the Timeline of this kind of challenge. Albeit, we've got Four More Days of Awesomeness than Whole30-ers, but I feel the same thoughts might currently apply to this week and their discussion of Days 28-30. 

The Whole30 Timeline, Version 2.0

Continue to have a truly lovely weekend, enjoy the sunshine, the Autumnal-Goodness, maybe a workout and some good food today. Meet me back here tomorrow so we can finish this week out RIGHT!

And remember, guys: we are doing awesome.

 Share any questions, concerns, or stories to tell here as a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole 28.5: Be Cool, Soda Pop.

The Whole 28 and a Half: Be Cool, Soda Pop.

A Touch of Something Serious

Hey, Homies. I want to take a quick moment to be uncharacteristically serious. I mean it, just a hot second here. 

#CleanEating is not THE answer. I repeat: Clean. Eating. Is. Not. THE. Answer.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Rachel! Then what the hell are we doing here? 28.5 my butt!" Slow down. What I'm saying is that it's not the "Be all, end all, will fix your life and the world and polution" answer. We are not participating in this challenge to create even more fraught relationships with food. We are not staging our meals to look decadent and masterful so that people see how perfect our diets have become...if you haven't noticed, Scott and I eat primarily out of Tupperware. Like 90% of the time...Tupperware.

Also, we are not doing this in order to provide anyone with an unhealthy obsession. Counting calories, tracking macros, and having particular grocery needs is rhythmic and routine. Because of this, for some, these practices can become obsessive. And no, I don't mean it can become obsessive to "crazy people." I mean people like you and me. It happens. For some, the rabbit-hole of research and rules and Instagram photos of perfectly plated food can be dangerous. This detrimental focus has been coined recently as "Orthorexia..."

"Orthorexia is defined as an obsession with healthy foods. In the age of raw food diets and Instagramming each of your meals as you #eatclean, it's becoming increasingly common—and dangerous."

Brought into the common vernacular most recently by Instagram/Blogger sensation, Jordan Younger, of The Blonde Vegan (now, The Balanced Vegan), this is an overpowering belief that healthy foods are the almighty answer to health and the ultimate lifestyle. 

*NOTE: this is not a clinically diagnosed eating disorder, and there is a good deal of hype about this label. Whether or not you believe in its validity, I completely respect the feeling and pain of sufferers and I hope that the attention provided via Social Media helps bring some of these issues to light for those that need help.  

If it doesn't come off clearly here...this is just another destructive relationship with food. Fruits, Veggies, Lean Meats...they don't make you a superhero. The magical human that you are makes that happen. Your whole person.  The Whole28.5 Challenge is about our relationship with food. Not about fitting into another box or proving yourself or MOST IMPORTANTLY: it's not about gaining love, attention, affection, or popularity from other people through your eating habits. No matter how witty your tweets are or how flattering your Instagram photos are. 

The fact that this is a blog, that there are photos, that we can all follow along via Social Media, this is to create COMMUNITY. 

Not competition. Not Judgement. Not Insecurity.

Check Your References

Now, obviously this is a poor excuse for detailed information about Orthorexia. Giving you a medical diagnosis is definitely not on my agenda. I just want all of us to be feeling good and happy and healthy -- positive and perky! But if you feel like this topic resonates with you, maybe The Whole28.5 isn't your jam! But I would be more than happy to discuss other options for you. Or really, even to offer an ear to tell your story. If you'd like to check out some savvy articles on Orthorexia, I suggest the following:

"When Does 'Eating Clean' Become an Eating Disorder?" by Claudia McNeilly

"My Life With Orthorexia" by Jordan Younger

"Orthorexia Nervosa" by Karin Kratina, PhD, RD, LD/N

The fact of the matter here is this: The Whole28.5 Challenge is meant to be a positive boost that provides some guidelines to step into the direction of eating for fuel and feeling good. It's not about posting photos of the prettiest meal or juicing yourself to the tightest abs. I hope that we all know by now, I always prefer to celebrate the comedic flare over the model-midriff.

Guys, we are doing awesome.

 Share any questions, concerns, or stories to tell here as a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

The Whole 28.5: It's All Downhill From Here

The Whole 28 and a Half:  It's All Downhill From Here

Eight Days Left

Seriously, though! 

We only have Eight Days left of The Whole28.5 Challenge and I can already see the finish line. I will honestly and opening admit, for those first three weeks (yes, all THREE weeks), the end of the Challenge felt very, very, very far away. Like "over the river and through the woods" far away. On those days when my frustration level was sky rocketing and I watched my coworkers eat lasagna/pizza/spaghetti/bagels for lunch as I chomped violently on my chopped up head of cauliflower, I almost felt like the days were going in reverse. And then suddenly, as the recipes became more fun and flavorful, as meals were prepped and packed, and as the physical effects of changing up my eating habits became crystal clear: we ended up here....with only Eight Days left. I'm flabbergasted, seriously!

And I'm so very happy that I'm doing this. I'm so very happy that I have other friends and family who have joined me with open arms for this pretty drastic upheaval. I'm so very happy that this blog-journey of thoughts, feelings, photos, recipes, confessions and fun has been able to reach even more people just by being here. Sharing this process hasn't always been easy. I've been frustrated. I've been sad. I've been hungry. But I've also been encouraged, rejuvenated, and inspired. This is a REAL challenge and the effects of it are grounded in reality. Sharing this has definitely and unexpectedly become the most important part of this process for me. So, let me say:

Thank you so much for going through this with me.

You are awesome.

Week-End Confession

Okay, I know it's only Thursday, but I would feel like a phony if I didn't share. We partook in our second "Live Yo' Life!" day of food-debauchery yesterday. We woke up early, skipping breakfast to beat the traffic, as we spent the majority of the day with family for funeral services and a luncheon. It was important that we were there and it was abundantly clear that this was a day we would not really be able to be "in the driver's seat" of the day's menus...so, the barriers came down. It was a long day (well worth it, of course!) which turned into a long evening, as I still had to shadow at Novem that night. I'm not going to go into the details...with only Eight Days left, let's not sully the last few steps. But I will say, I'm currently cooking up the Back to Basics chicken thighs, broccoli and green beans, because my body hates me. HATES ME. In fact, I'm typing here at the counter (Multitasker Extraordinaire!) at 5:30pm and I STILL feel Full. And Gross. And Lethargic. And Bloated. And did I say Gross?

I've just about finished my 90 ounces of water today...but I feel like I could still fill the bathtub and pop a straw in there to tackle this dehydration and retention. LAME.  However, let me reflect on the fact that I am totally learning my lesson! This happened last time as well. I felt like a big, bloated, gross, turd the next day after going awol on the plan. And was the food super worth it in the moment? I mean, it was "instantly awesome" due to the salts and sugars and carbs, but even just a few minutes in to the meals, I knew this was going to be bad news. And not just because I "know better," but because after a good 10-20 minutes, my newly honed and shiny clean digestive system starting telling me I was a dummy. And ya know what? I don't need my insides giving me sass, when I really do know better! Especially, when I know how to "indulge" without being completely absurd. So, I feel this is a Lesson of The Whole28.5 Challenge that has officially turned itself into a habit. I've Leveled Up.

Phew! Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. 

Shake Your Pom-Poms

Hmm, okay so that heading might lead you in more than one direction...
What I mean here is that it's time to really be your own cheerleader! This is the final countdown! Just over a week left. This COULD turn into the point where we get listless, neglectful, uninspired. We mustn't let that happen! This is the moment when we run out on to the field, shake what our Mamas gave us, and reignite the energy to make it to the end! So DO IT! Keep up the good work! Be sure to whip up that awesome recipe you discovered one more time. Give yourself a pat on the back when you pass on that second cup of coffee and instead go refill your water bottle. And definitely, get out and do something physical that makes you feel good! Go do some Yoga...I mean it.

Now, once more with feeling...

Guys, we are doing awesome.

Photo Courtsey @story_maker_design

 Share any questions, concerns, or stories to tell here as a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com

- Be cool, Soda Pop -