I’ve finished the first week of my Coronavirus Whole30 and, overall, I’m feeling great! Through this post I will share information about how I felt each day, what I learned, and, most importantly, what I ate.
Day 1: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
The first day of any new eating program is always cause for celebration. I had TONS of energy on Wednesday and took a walk outside and I was even able to attend my weekly dance class via Facebook. I was a little hungry between lunch and dinner, but I pushed past the cravings by doing more physical activity.
The major diet modification I made for day 1 was putting coconut milk (I just heated a few tablespoons in a sauce pan) in my coffee.
Dinner: Sichuan Chicken with String Beans from The Defined Dish (cookbook)
Day 2: Thursday, March 19, 2020
My motivation continued on day 2, but anxiety about finding Whole30 ingredients at the store continued to plague me. I also realized, while eating my lunch containing Bragg’s amino acids, that Bragg’s aminos acids and coconut aminos are NOT the same thing. So, I rushed off in a panic to Whole Foods and bought coconut aminos. As a result, I technically did not stick to the rules perfectly for the first 2 days. I am planning to add some extra days on at the end though to make up for this oversight. This example is why it’s very important to read through all of your Whole30 literature very carefully before beginning the program.
Days 1 and 2 were symptom-free in terms of food withdrawal. I felt good and fit in a walk around the park for exercise.
Dinner: Mongolian Beef from The Defined Dish (with Whole30 approved coconut aminos)
Day 3: Friday, March 20, 2020
Day 3 was the beginning of the allergic reaction portion of my Whole30. I am allergic to tree nuts (excluding almonds), so I decided to try a product called nutpods in my morning coffee. I read the ingredients many times, and believed it to be almond-based. After a few sips of coffee, however, I realized I was wrong. My throat started to swell, which is typically how my allergy manifests. I stopped drinking the coffee and replaced it with Benadryl. As a result, I spent most of the rest of the day sleeping because of the medicine.
Despite being allergic to nutpods, I didn’t think the taste was that great. When I told my friend Christina about it she told me nutpods, to her, taste like spoiled milk. So, they don’t have a very favorable review. If you are doing the Whole30 or cannot eat dairy, you could try them, but I (and others, it seems) are not fans.
The third day also brought headaches, probably my body looking for some of the things it’s now missing (sugar and alcohol are my best guesses).
Dinner: Green Curry Shrimp inspired by Green Curry Chicken from The Defined Dish (cookbook)
Day 4: Saturday, March 21, 2020
While I still had a headache on day 4, my allergic reaction was gone (for the time being- more on that on day 7).
Dinner: Pork Souvlaki from Ina Garten (Cook Like a Pro cookbook)
Note: Instead of the traditional tzatziki sauce, I made a mayo-based sauce that was a riff on Teri Turner’s Green Goddess dressing. I used mint and parsley instead of tarragon and I omitted the avocado.
Day 5: Sunday, March 22, 2020
I kept very busy with house chores on Sunday, but once I sat down my head hurt and my anxiety about finding fresh food peaked. A wine craving hit in the evening because of these symptoms. I was also extremely tired around 4:00 PM. I resisted my craving for wine, however, and pushed through for the remainder of the day.
Dinner: Leftovers!
Day 6: Monday, March 23, 2020
This was my first day working from home, so I was able to fit in an hour of yoga before beginning work in the morning. My headaches finally abated and I was able to calm a lot of my anxiety through my yoga practice.
Dinner: Healing Chicken Soup from The Defined Dish (cookbook)
Day 7: Tuesday, March 24, 202
After the first week of Whole30 I’m already beginning to feel lighter, leaner, and happier. When I say I feel “lighter,” I don’t just mean I’ve lost weight, but I feel more bouyant. I go to bed feeling satisfied, but not guilty about eating too much before bed. I’m not dreading the day ahead, but I’m looking forward to getting up and practicing yoga and cooking delicious meals. Because my mood has improved, I’m definitely a more pleasant person to be around (even if I’m only around my husband and Taco the chihuahua for the time being).
My mood was also lifted on day 7 because I went grocery shopping and was able to find almost everything on my list. I was able to let go of the anxiety surrounding shopping in these uncertain times (at least for 7-10 days until I have to go back to the store).
A Note on Allergies
Remember when I thought my allergy was cleared up after day 3? It wasn’t. My throat continued to bother me off and on on Sunday, but I did my best to ignore it because I felt fine otherwise. On the morning of Day 8, however, my throat worsened. It felt like I had something lodged in my throat and no amount of water could get it to move. After talking to two nurses on the phone, I finally realized I had ingested something else new this week: coconut aminos. I immediately took Benadryl and within an hour my throat was back to normal.
When I reviewed the meals I had during week 1, I realized my throat swelled after eating mongolian beef and the meatloaf meatballs. Both recipes contained coconut aminos. It disappoints me to give up coconut aminos because they are one of the most essential ingredients to Whole30 cooking, but, for my well being, I must.
Dinner: Meatloaf Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans from The Defined Dish (cookbook)
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m feeling refreshed after the first 7 days of the Whole30. Part of this feeling, I know, stems from eating real food for a week and avoiding things I tend to overindulge in like alcohol, grains, and bread. I love going to bed feeling full and satisfied, but not stuffed and bloated. I can also, however, attribute these happy feelings to being forced to work from home. Although it can be boring to stay home all day, I have been able to focus on my personal fitness and diet more than I would during a normal work week.
This being said, I understand I am extremely privileged to be able to exercise from home while completing my job without worry because my pay has not been interrupted and to shop for large amounts of groceries at one time because I have the financial means to do so. I know many people in my community are not so privileged and I am doing what I can to support them during this time (especially those in the service industry and those whose businesses are closed because of the mandatory shutdown).
If you are a local, please consider “tipping” a server virtually while you eat dinner at home. Additionally, there are Go Fund Me pages set up to support the staff at many local businesses. Some of my favorite local places currently accepting donations are: Moodright’s, Atlantic, and Foxy Loxy. You can also make a donation to your local food bank to help those in need access food during this uncertain time.
I will be back next week with an update on my Coronavirus Whole 30 week 2!
**All opinions expressed are my own. Experiences on Whole30 vary. I am not a medical doctor or dietitian, and you should not undertake a new diet without consulting a medical professional.