Thirty days. No processed Food.

by

protein shake

chock full o’fruit & veggie goodness

 

The day after Halloween I was obsessing about my MOVE & pacing in front of the ON! SALE candy standing in a long grocery line when I spied a tweet.

(I deliberately pick the long lines so as to snag me some mid-day social media time)

I really like Derek & Greatist.

He melds the super-smart and the irreverently funny in the way I only aspire to—so I immediately tweeted back words of encouragement.

I used voice dictation however & instead of tweeting YOUVE GOT THIS—my iPhone conspired against me & informed him IVE GOT THIS.

Derek’s response?

 

In that moment I glanced down at my red plastic shopping basket & decided: YES. I. AM.

Methinks this is NOT found in nature…

Ive rambled before all about how Im an intuitive eater.  A mindful eater.

A woman who grazes all day and snacks all night.

Im SALT not SUGAR and Im finally 100% content the way I am.

Except for right now. 

Im stressed.  Im leaving my home of 12 years about seven months BEFORE Id thought I was moving.

Ive little time for goodbyes and know it will be a muddle of work-pack-mothering-work-pack-mothering-work-pack-mothering for the next 6 weeks (at which point Ill happily shift to work-UNPACK-mothering-work-UNPACK-mothering).

The last time I had this schedule I was packing up to move to Guatemala and let’s just say I ate intuitively—but I intuitively reached for far more sugar and junk.

The result was I arrived to the Land of Eternal Spring EXHAUSTED and already running on fumes.  (not so much a good plan when you’re a new mom, a first time mom, solo and dont speak the language.)

As soon as I spied Derek’s response to me I knew there were no accidents.

I was in. 

I knew this was what I needed. 

I swapped out my processed crap (Im human, People.  I may not be hitting McD’s drive thru but it isnt all KALE and BROCCOLI up in herre).  I was ready to go.

AFTER I CLARIFIED ONE THING: could I still consume my beloved ostrich jerky?

Derek FlanzraichI say yep.

I was in.  Committed.  Yet as a woman whos renown for being SOFT CORE and not doing challenges I invariably had to tweak the proposition.

Im committing to no-processed junk until Im happily residing in the Bay Area (<—-see? I got it. Im a local already!) and unpacked.

Im setting myself up for success (Im so good to me) with the inclusion of my jerky—but otherwise Im striving to be 99% wrapper-free until Im a Northern California resident.

All in the name of voice-dictation error and knowing  (deep in my forty three & a half year old needs more planking core) this will provide me the energy I need to make a smooth transition for the Tornado & me.

 

Whatcha think?

Wanna JOIN ME?

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Comments

  1. I feel this is what I should do, too. I am constantly saying I’m tired and eating too many sweets to try and get energized.

  5. There never are accidents are there.

    I haven’t see Greatist site before.

    Thanks for the new blog.

  6. Of all the nutrition changes I’ve made over the past year, that ended with me being a vegan (who knew?!?), the eliminating processed foods had the biggest impact on how I look, perform and feel.

    I know a little bit about stress right now too.

  9. Carla I laughed when I read this because it is something I could see myself doing but I would never follow through LOL

    I remember when you wrote at Greatist about your story.
    DO you have that link? I want to share with a friend.

    I’m not joining you 🙂
    Sorry.

  15. No accidents. I needed to read it too. And to be in. I’ll take high quality cheeses, canned tomatoes and Bear Naked granola as my 1% and declare myself in. I made it through my self-imposed No Microwave October and am never going back, so this should be a good thing as well!

  16. From the title I honestly thought this was going to be a guest post! I wondered about the timing on the move. It may suck now, but it will be better to get it over and done and start settling in to your new home. I look at the Smart Balance spread and lowfat Half & Half on my counter from my breakfast and know this one is not for me! 😉

    • I think the husband thought it was a guest post too. Im going silently into the non-processed night 🙂

  18. I love Greatist!
    I love my breakfast cookies, too.
    I wonder if I could do non-processed except the cookies and Vitatops?

  21. I think this might help you thru this Carla – more focus & you eat pretty damn good anyway!!! Lots of stress ahead.. I understand it & hope it all goes smoothly. It is so hard to move from a place you have been that long & especially that fast. I do think you will end up loving it here though. Where exactly – town/city are you going. Lots of places that have cool diverse cultures up north.

    As for me, I would love to join BUT I have my 55th & I just can’t give up my cookie weekend treats! 😉 I don’t eat much processed anyway… I will be there for you though!

  23. I try to eat mostly unprocessed foods but I love my protein powder. I think that qualifies as processed unless it falls into the “jerky” cateogory. 😉 I definitely avoid all artificial sugars and preservatives. You can do this!

    • ID SAY YES…in that I knew Id last MAYBE a day without my one thing. we all need one thing yes? 🙂

  24. I love how voice dictation foiled you 🙂

    I’ve been debating doing one of this too, but I have literally NEVER done a food challenge. Totally not my thing…which makes me wonder if I should give it a try?!

  25. Ostrich is some of the better meat you can consume if you are a meat eater, and drying/jerky making is what our ancestors did. As long as the company making it is quality, that’s not processed junk.

    As for me, i eat almost 100% raw vegan, so no junk. You are right about it giving you more real energy than the false boost from cookies and other such things.

      • I have a good friend who has been vegan for years and has recently decided to go raw. He bought a special processor that makes soup cold, and in such a way as to not deteriorate most of the nutrients from his beloved veggies. I’m gluten intolerant, and pescitarian, so most everything I eat has to be fairly unprocessed. That being said, I generally despise cooking, much to the dismay of my Irish Nana, who’s convinced that I’ll “never find a decent man.” (My thought on the matter is that a truly decent man us one who won’t make you cook.)
        But, I wholeheartedly will join you today, and for a month to iron out all processed junk from my diet. Like you, however, I have one exception. I will surely die w/out my organic dark chocolate bars, some of the proceeds of which go to the WWF to aid endangered species. So, I can “cheat” while indulging some good karma, so it all evens out in the end.
        Thanks for a great inspiration!

  26. This is why I love you.
    You are who you are and just human.
    I also admire you didn’t tweet retract! retract!

  29. YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!

    Maybe ill join too! Ill rush to the store today and pick up more produce! 🙂

  31. Im so old school bodybuilding and I know youre a LOOONG TIME ATHLETE TOO.
    Im bringing brown rice and grilled chicken and fruit 🙂

  32. aaah, MIZ. things happen for a reason, do they not?

    I have a couple of food projects I HAVE to do (well, I choose to because I get paid), but aside from those?

    I WILL JOIN YOU!! I have been wanting to do another juice fast – THIS is how I will join you!! YAY!

  33. I’m in – but Imma gonna have to do this in baby steps. One meal/day I’ll unjunk myself – breakfast was a write off (Frosted Flakes – eeek!) so I’ll start with lunch. Yes – lunch everyday will be fresh and whole. I got this… right?

  34. YES!! that’s such a fantastic idea…and one I’m lovingly trying to get the husband on board for.

  38. Challenge? Mizfit?? Who ARE you??? 😉

    This is probably a good time, considering all the moving stress, to ensure that you are feeding your body really good food.

  39. I consume so few processed foods already (canned sardines, protein powder, almond or coconut milk, coconut water, coffee.) And I honestly cannot imagine giving these up. I’ve whittled as much as I can whittle.

    So I will pass on this challenge….

  41. Good luck!

    I do the opposite during stressful transitions; my willpower is a fairly limited resource, so if I have a lot “chores” to make myself do, I don’t try to be especially heroic about food choices.

    But sounds like just the right challenge at the right time for you!

    (She said, drinking her weird-ass coffee laced with protein powder, goat milk and coconut milk.)

  42. Hmmm…Between this and Janetha’s Turkey Day Challenge, I’m considering jumping in! But I’m like you – I generally don’t “do” challenges – just not really my thing! I think it prevents me from committing, sometimes, so it ends up not always being a good thing. You know what? I’m in! Main tough things for me: protein powder (although I can throw my hemp seeds and chia seeds into the mix instead!) – think that’s the main thing? That and is almond butter? No…just almonds…whew. 😉

  44. YOU, my friend, are friggin awesome and a general champ. I think I’m going to follow in your footsteps and do something similar — probably NO SUGAR including no FAKE sugar (including stevia…. oh be still my heart).

    Yup. gotta do it.

    Love ya lady.

  47. I actually don’t eat a ton of processed foods (except the candy corn, right now LOL).

    I do use protein powder. It just fits in my life and while it is processed, it isn’t full of crap – I buy the unflavored whey isolate, so it doesn’t have any fillers or flavors.

    There are just certain things I see no need to give up just because. One reason I won’t do the Whole 30 thing. So not interested in giving up dairy or caffeine. Ever.

    They are letting you get in with beef jerky, eh? LOL.

  48. Go you! I don’t eat much processed food already, but I’m definitely not in…I’m eating whatever I can stand the site of right now. 😉

  50. i think this will do wonders as you transition to your new home. Keeping you NOURISHED and feeding you with EXTRA care. You got this!

  52. Hi Miz. I so wish I was close by. I could help you pack and act as your “court jester” and make you non processed food as you ready yourself and your family to move. Northern California is LOVELY. I’ve only visited, but I LOVED it there. I envy you living is such a vibrant, diverse and exciting part of the world. Take care, sending hugs (and empty boxes) your way.

  53. I think this is a really fantastic idea, Miz. Ever since I decided to really focus on weight loss for health reasons a couple of years ago, it’s come off slowly, but 72 pounds have gone bye-bye because I’ve slowly kicked the processed crap out of the house. Of course, the husband can eat anything and everything right now, and I warn him that it’ll catch up with him, so it’s still in the house when he picks things up. My kids have gotten really good at choosing healthy, whole foods over processed ones, but they still get to have “treats” once in a while. My oldest will come home and complain that parents sent brownies or donuts for snack that day and ask for a piece of fruit or some tomatoes. Halloween has really been hell around here for me…my sweet tooth (mainly chocolate) rears its ugly head. I think it’s important for people to understand that you should avoid processed foods MOST of the time, but that there are “healthier” not-as-processed foods you can choose if you need to. Love this!

  54. I’m sorta in. Baby steps. Step 1: get through marathon this weekend. Step 2: spend week recovering and doing whatever the hell I want. Step 3: start once again cooking, eating mostly fruit/veg/complex carbs/nuts/healthy oil/a little lean protein/beans/etc. Step 4: track food for a bit to ensure that I’m not eating said things in too mass of quantities.

    It will be interesting after a summer/fall of sorta “whatever I wanted” to hunger, but a new challenge it will be!

  55. Good for you, girl! This is going to be amazing. I live my life like this (for the most part) and since doing so I have never felt better. The longer you go without the sugar and everything else, the easier it is to not crave it and include it in your life.

    Good luck!

  56. This is great! I’m totally supporting your efforts here and think you’ll love it! This is something I’ve moved forward consistently throughout my life and and at a point where I really don’t eat processed foods much at all (as in one item every couple of weeks). So I’m all for it! I always feel better if I fall of for a period of time and then get back to wholesome living! Good luck with all your changes! Many many hugs!

  57. I like this idea a lot. Now that I have more time to cook with school being over, I’m trying to change what I cook and eat to focus on healthy food. Real food made by me from scratch instead of curl up into a breadfilled snacky hibernation 🙂

  59. YOU’ve got this. Notice I won’t make the same freudian slip as you. I like my dark chocolate too much. 😉

    I do think its a great challenge and can’t wait to read about it. I have been working at limiting added sugars a lot lately, so I’ll keep challenging myself that way. Minus the dark chocolate. I draw the line there.

  60. What a great challenge! I have to say, it would require some planning on my part, we try not to eat processed but sneak quite a few thing in here and there. You’ve created awareness, I will stop every time I pick something up or give something to my kids. I’ll give it my best shot. Good luck with your challenge!

  61. This sounds like a great idea to me!

    I can’t even pretend like I don’t eat a lot of processed food. One of my bosses brings in Entenmanns to work all the time,the other one brings in baked goods, AND they make popcorn a couple days a week!

    The longest food challenge I’ve ever done was 3 or 4 days, but I’m in.

  62. Right before reading this I consumed about 1/2 a bag of potato chips – mindless snacking. I’m going to try the challenge of no processed foods but I’m still going to have my evening cocktail – I hope that still counts!!

  63. If anyone can do this it’s you! I won’t be joining you on this as I love my yogurt, almond milk, canned tomatoes, sprouted bread and so on. I don’t feel like its junk food or anything that needs to be banished from my food plan. With foot surgery in a few weeks I need to keep things simple.

    Looking forward to reading all about your challenge.

  66. I’ll just watch from afar (but not *too* afar, since I’m fairly whole foods and am pretty careful about the processed stuff.)

    Sending you calming, breathe-in/breathe-out vibes!

  67. I just love how thought-provoking this has been even for the first day! At 645am it seemed like noooo problem, but just noticing how many of my staples are not actually whole foods was really interesting. I had broccoli, homemade veggie/rice soup, grapes, quinoa, organic free range chicken and roasted vegetables today but I also had: Egg Beaters (I know–sorry, but they really are processed, especially the non “just whites” ones I had today); plain yogurt; Wholly Guacamole with “Better For You” [really?????] sweet potato chips; cheese; 86% dark chocolate; and a few Pop Chips. But it’s fun just contemplating it!

  68. I kind of love the story of how this came to be. Clearly it was meant to be, no?I generally like to think that I don’t eat a lot of processed food but I know that my diet could definitely use some cleaning up. Hmmm, maybe I’ll quietly join you?

    BTW – never refer to San Francisco as “Frisco”. SF is OK. San Fran – meh. Bay Area – yes. The Bay – no. 🙂

  70. Miz, despite bad-mouthing things like diet / meal replacement shakes, I went on that exact program in September for 3 weeks… and for a similar reason to you.

    I was in the throes of finishing up at work and putting my place on the market and starting to prepare for my own move. A company offered me a trial of Iso Whey Shakes and I realised that by agreeing to do it I would be FORCED to rein in my usual stressed behaviour of eating everything in sight.

    And do you know what?! It worked. I didn’t really lose any weight, but at a time I would normally have gone crazy on unhealthy food to cope – I didn’t.

    I’m sure you’ll have the same success!

    Deb

  71. Think it’s a great idea you’re doing this now, also based on your experience the last time you moved.

    I am not completely in but I will be more mindful to this. I don’t eat that many processed foods anymore but every now and then I do and those times I will think before I put it in my mouth.

    Good luck!

  72. Ive been inundated with WAIT IS ____ OK TO EAT?
    Im a rebel, Dottie.
    A misfit.
    THE ONLY RULE IS YOU MAKE THE RULES.
    Im a firm believer that hard and rigid makes people wanna rebel 🙂
    Im doing my EGG BEATERS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT EGG WHITES (wink). Im not doing any alcohol.
    Im APPLAUDING a friend who is skipping her bag of chips at lunch each day for a month.

    Thems the rules.
    There be no rules….

  73. I’m in too. I have major surgery in 10 days’ time and my body needs the best it can get both before and after the surgery. Good luck with the big move!

  74. That’s a tough challenge to take on! I feel ya – I’m in the process of moving as well. It’s super stressful and I’ve only been at my current place for 2 years, not 12! So, I can only imagine how stressful it must be for you. Good luck with the challenge & with the move!! 😀 I really like your mantra & I just might have to adopt it during this time of moving and changing in my own life ;). They Bay Area really is beautiful and SF is a super cool, hip city. I’ve visited several times and there’s not a chain restaurant or store in sight (in the city-city), with the exception of Starbucks. It’s pretty cool. Tons of local, mom & pop places to eat, drink, and shop.

  77. Heck yeah YOU’VE got this and Heck yeah I want in! 🙂 And….. I know things are crazy with your move and all happening so fast, but we MUST figure out how to get together once you’re in CA!!!!

  80. I admire you for taking on the challenge of not eating any processed food for 30 days. I was curious on what was considered to be processed food so I found a website you can check here http://www.foodinsight.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=wtg018sd8qk%3D&tabid=1398 . This website label rice, oatmeal, chicken to be processed food. This made me reject the idea of going on for 30 days without eating any processed food. Every day, I try to reach a certain amount of protein. As a college student, chicken is the cheapest source of protein I can get. I love to work out and reaching my protein requirements would lead to more muscle gains.

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