Comments on All Things G&D: My 28 Day Challenge

So happy to have you on board MSHammond! Thanks f...

2012-02-10T19:01:10.691-06:00

So happy to have you on board MSHammond!

Thanks for all the tips, Mandy! That's a lot of great information. I'll be checking into those books and that website!

@Sally--Yep. Totally true. :)

@CC--I take a multivitamin, vitamin B and vitamin C whenever I remember.

wow! love this. Do you take any supplements or mul...

2012-02-08T19:29:39.246-06:00

wow! love this. Do you take any supplements or multivitamins? Just curious. whole nutrition is always best, but I'm looking into taking multivitamins. cc in VA

good for you!! now you've given me some inspir...

2012-01-30T12:08:18.301-06:00

good for you!! now you've given me some inspiration to start eating better.

i must admit that i'm flabergasted that you had never had an orange, grape, blueberry, strawberry, etc.. before. really? ;)

-sally

Congrats, you can do it! I've been passionate...

2012-01-30T10:49:01.684-06:00

Congrats, you can do it! I've been passionate about "clean" eating for the last year or two. We actually find that it is less expensive to eat even though we buy almost entirely organic veggies and hormone free meat, farm eggs, etc because we are just buying real food. We don't buy granola bars, cereal, and crackers and that sort of processed stuff anymore, so we really aren't spending more than we used to in total grocery bills. Also, we have a great farmer's market in our area and I buy a ton of stuff in season and just freeze it. Super easy and saved lots of $$$, not to mention no chemicals, supporting local farmers, and tastes great. We also have our own garden to have fresh veggies through the summer, but for storing winter surplus I have to purchase. We make our own pizza - whole wheat crust with lots of veggies, so easy and honestly tastier than some "real" pizza places so you don't have to give everything up, just find ways to make it healthier version.

Other resources that I really enjoyed that you may like are Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, 100 Days of Real Food website...you may have already checked them out. Sorry so long, just wanted to chime in and say you are not alone and it gets easier, you can totally do it! Looking forward to your recipes and success! Mandy

Hi! I've read your blog for many years now bu...

2012-01-29T10:45:27.233-06:00

Hi! I've read your blog for many years now but never commented. I'm totally game to this 28 day challenge-I need something to motivate me. I enlisted a couple of girlfriends to do this with me too. Can't wait for wednesday. I hope you keep us updated on how you are doing along the way. Maybe a weekly update? :)

Thank you for your comments, everyone! I'm so...

2012-01-28T12:32:29.345-06:00

Thank you for your comments, everyone! I'm so excited that some of you will be joining me in this challenge! I will primarily be using my Facebook page to track my progress, meals and snacks, post recipes, etc. so be sure to "like" ATG&D on Facebook to follow along, compare notes, and swap meal ideas!

Below are answers to (hopefully all) of your questions:

I primarily use www.wholeliving.com for recipes during this time; specifically the recipes that are already part of the 28 Day Challenge. I also spend my evenings (after Kate goes to bed) chopping veggies, making smoothies, prepping whatever foods or meals I need for the next day or two. I'd say you should expect to set aside about an hour/night for this. Maybe less. And probably not every night. Instead of sitting on the couch and watching TV at night, I stand in the kitchen prepping food while watching TV. I can't remember the last time I sat on our couch!

@Heidi--YES! I definitely feel like my running is stronger when I'm eating whole foods. So true!

@Ginger--Sadly, giving a up wine for the month was the hardest part part of the challenge for me last year. But like you said--even more reason why it was good for me to do!

@kpotter--Do a search for Martha Stewart's quinoa muffins. Love them!!

@Manda--I hear ya, girl. That part's going to be SO HARD for me. Last year you could at least have chicken and fish during week one. This year? Nope. (gulp)

@J.Obrien--You're right, unfortunately it's not cheap to eat like this, but I look at it as a long-term investment in my health. I believe it will pay off in the long run, and have adjusted my budget to reflect my value in eating whole, chemical-free foods. I wish it were less expensive, and my hope is that one day, as more and more people eat this way, it will be.

@Andrea--thanks for the recipe!

You totally can, Jenna!!

@Anonymous--Thanks for the tip about Clean Eating magazine. I will definitely check that out!

@Embellished--Nope, G didn't do it with me, but he was incredibly supportive. He did a lot of fending for himself at dinner time, although there were nights that I'd still make a meat and potato kind of meal for him and I would just eat a veggie side. He was open to trying some of the new recipes I made, but wasn't crazy about most of them. Overall though, he did adjust his eating habits and cut out quite a bit of processed foods after seeing me go through this process which I was happy to see.

Thanks for the suggestion, Amanda--I'll certainly try again!

@Anonymous--Well the truth is, I wasn't staying very skinny eating that way. It was definitely catching up with me, especially as I get older. Plus my lack of energy was really having a negative effect on my workouts. I was starting to picture myself 5 years into the future, and it wasn't good!

I don't know how you stay so skinny! If I ate...

2012-01-28T03:36:02.504-06:00

I don't know how you stay so skinny! If I ate like you did before you started this and was thin I'd be in heaven. Thanks for posting this and I'll follow along too! Love your blog and I don't even know how I found it. Thanks!

Kudos for trying all the new food! I do have one r...

2012-01-27T23:32:45.082-06:00

Kudos for trying all the new food! I do have one recommendation for you, though--try some of those fruits and veggies again, only in season, from a local farmer (if possible!). The taste difference is night and day! I couldn't get my husband to like blueberries (my fav fruit) til he had some that were really fresh. My cousin, too, with tomatoes (she's picky like you!). I'm not sure how any one could like those anemic store tomatoes! Good luck with the new challenge!

You have inspired me! I'm just wondering, thou...

2012-01-27T23:21:02.548-06:00

You have inspired me! I'm just wondering, though, is this something you did by yourself or did your husband join in, too? I know my husband would never go for it, he is not a big fan of veggies and lives to have a few beers with the guys on the weekend.

Very interesting! I'm going to need to request...

2012-01-27T21:26:36.764-06:00

Very interesting! I'm going to need to request some recipes and more food details... I am a SUPER picky eater and the way you descibed yourself sounds much like me... no veggies, few fruits and lots of boxed meals... What's this diet looking like as far as time and money go?

I'm so in! I have been trying to get back on t...

2012-01-27T21:02:30.944-06:00

I'm so in! I have been trying to get back on track with clean eating and had one good week followed by two not so good ones. In 28 days I'll be getting ready to go to the beach with someone I really want to look - and more importantly FEEL - good in front of so the timeframe is perfect. And I like the simplicity of no processed foods, no sugar (I assume you mean added sugar), and no alcohol. Other detox plans are too extreme for me.

Check out Clean Eating magazine, too. Great recipes and they feature a product category and compare brands to tell you which qualify as "clean" meaning free of unnatural ingredients.

Thanks for posting, D! I'm actually really in...

2012-01-27T20:26:34.751-06:00

Thanks for posting, D! I'm actually really interested in trying this. I figure I can do anything for a month, right?

Love it! I'll definitely be doing it with you...

2012-01-27T13:20:48.288-06:00

Love it! I'll definitely be doing it with you!

And, because I've fallen in love with kale...you've gotta try it like this: http://www.mykindaperfect.com/2011/11/sunday-yumday_28.html

=)

I think I want to try this on a more 80/20 basis s...

2012-01-27T11:22:40.460-06:00

I think I want to try this on a more 80/20 basis since heavy restrictions don't typically go well with me. Once the baby is here and I start my workout regimen again, I'm all about this detox!

So I am wondering how expensive eating like this, ...

2012-01-27T11:13:05.003-06:00

So I am wondering how expensive eating like this, because I know normally fruits and vegetables are kind of pricey but I would love to do this, now to just convince the husband

We've been making better choices as a family s...

2012-01-27T11:05:55.718-06:00

We've been making better choices as a family since I got pregnant in 2010 but I am much much pickier about what I put on my now 15 month olds plate than myself.

Good luck and I look forward to following your journey!

I've been catching up on episodes of Martha St...

2012-01-27T10:39:47.111-06:00

I've been catching up on episodes of Martha Stewart on my DVR and there have been a couple about the Whole Living Action Plan. I give you total props for doing it! WAY TO GO! I've always loved vegetables and I am not a picky eater at all....I think I pretty much will eat anything except asparagus but I definitely gravitate toward the sweets. I was raised on processed foods and now that I am adult I am learning to cook and eat fresh foods. My husband loves to cook from scratch but he hates vegetables and it seems like all the meals he makes are meat and potato intensive. I am learning to let myself be creative in the kitchen and create meals for myself to eat for lunches and have loved exploring fresh foods. I recommend Weight Watchers for recipes. :-) Keep up the good work. You are being a good role model for your daughter.

D, Just wanted to say thanks for this! Between th...

2012-01-27T10:29:49.163-06:00

D,

Just wanted to say thanks for this! Between the copious amounts of liquor consumed over the holidays and a jokingly-yet-turned-hardcore challenge between my boyfriend and I to finish our liquor supply before we move...Lord knows I could use an exorcism....err detox...err cleanse of ethanol from my bod!

I am so in. Although, admittedly I'm having an Aunt Voula moment from My Big Fat Greek Wedding - "what do you mean he don't eat no meat?" If I am reading this correctly, are juicy, tasty, delicious bbq ribs off the menu? This is some hardcore shit err non-processed, sustainable organic tempeh.

This is something I have been thinking about a lot...

2012-01-27T10:21:55.911-06:00

This is something I have been thinking about a lot. I may just have to join in on the challenge. Thanks for the information

Hi! I read your blog all the time, but I think thi...

2012-01-27T10:16:50.237-06:00

Hi! I read your blog all the time, but I think this may actually be my first comment other than giveaways. But, you really spoke to me with this post. My husband and I are going to start trying for our first this year and I've really been thinking about my diet and how that will affect my baby. I think this is just what I need to clean up my act beforehand although I'm totally dreading doing it - I do really love fluorescent orange liquid cheese on my nachos, you know? But I'm heading over to Whole Living now to check it out. I keep hearing about this quinoa stuff - might as well finally give it a try! Thanks!

I think it's great that you're going to do...

2012-01-27T09:17:23.981-06:00

I think it's great that you're going to do this again. I certainly need to; I have WAY too much unhealthy stuff in my diet. I can't wait to see how you do...Maybe I'll suck it up enough to try this as well.

Ugh. I'm in. I've needed to do this foreve...

2012-01-27T08:58:05.133-06:00

Ugh. I'm in. I've needed to do this forever and kept putting it off, but now that there's someone else doing it, maybe it'll be easier together.

Not to mention I have a doctor's appointment on Monday the 6th, to discuss medications and my health for a possible near-future pregnancy.

I already eat like this most of the time, but givi...

2012-01-27T08:57:16.851-06:00

I already eat like this most of the time, but giving up wine and coffee would be SO HARD. maybe that means I really need to do it...

thanks for the "food for thought" :)

When I started running more consistently I noticed...

2012-01-27T08:52:03.343-06:00

When I started running more consistently I noticed that I ran better when I was eating better. It's not rocket science, but eating Chick Fil A and then running the next day didn't feel so hot. Since then I've really focused on trying to eat more whole foods and less junk. It takes time, but it works. I definitely feel better and have more energy on days I eat more nutrious. That darn old adage is right, "you are what you eat."

I'm so impressed (and inspired) by you! It tak...

2012-01-27T08:33:45.202-06:00

I'm so impressed (and inspired) by you! It takes guts (heh) to make these changes, and I really admire that you are and have been going for it. I definitely am going to try to play along!