Whole 30:Day 30!!

 

I DID IT!!!! I completed all 30 days without cheating and I can’t hardly believe it myself!

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What exactly did I cut out of my diet, you ask?

1. Dairy

2. Soy

3. Sugar (including honey, agave, stevia…basically anything and everything with natural or artificial sugar)

4. Legumes/beans

5. Grains/wheat/gluten

6. Caffeine

7. Alcohol

8. MSG/Carrageenan/Sulfites and basically all processed & fast foods

9. All potatoes (with the exception of sweet potatoes which are Whole30 approved)

Which begs the question, what DID I eat?

1. Organic beef, chicken, and pork

2. Eggs

3. Whole30 approved veggies

4. Limited servings of Whole30 approved fruit

5. Limited nuts/nut butter

The Pro’s:

1. I lost 10 pounds

2. My hair and skin felt noticeably softer

3. I learned how to exercise self-control when fighting cravings

4. Super simple meal planning

5. My massage therapist said she could feel a tremendous difference in the swelling and water retention in my muscles and joints. I saw her twice during the challenge and I never mentioned that I had changed my eating…she could just FEEL the difference and asked what I had changed recently.

6. Experimenting with new foods: Ghee, Coconut oil, shallots, bone broth, leeks…to name a few!

The Con’s:

1. I never gained more energy

2. I didn’t sleep any better

3. I struggled a LOT with my chronic issues & pain

4. Riding out migraines without any medicine because they all had sugar in them

5. Surviving the first week was a BEATING.

6. No chocolate and no caffeine. Need I say more?? I have 4 kids 6 and under, y’all!!

Overall take away:

I am glad I went through the complete challenge without giving up. This was certainly tough but when I compared it to things I have gone through the last few years, I quickly realized how easy this seemed in comparison. Honestly, it went by way faster than I thought it would (with the exception of the first 4 days which dragged on and almost made me give up). It sounds cliche, but if *I* can do this, anybody can! Listen, I made all the excuses myself…

Excuse: but I have 4 kids and I won’t have time to cook/meal plan/shop

Truth: Making meals was easy because you have limited food options. I kept it simple (eggs for breakfast, protein/salad for lunch, meat/veggies for dinner and fruit/nuts in moderation). I prepped every single meal for myself WHILE preparing the kid’s meals throughout the day. I kept our dinners the same but the kids obviously got dairy and grains. It was hard smelling and handling food I couldn’t eat myself, but it made me realize how much will power I possess and that I am in control over the choices I make about what goes into my body. It was empowering to know I didn’t *need* a cookie…or slice of bread…or cheese on my eggs. When in doubt about something I would refer to my Whole30 shopping guide

Excuse: {around day 2-4} I can’t go without some sugar or carbs! My body needs at least some to help me through…

Truth: The first week is meant to be insanely hard. That is your body detoxing from junk food!

Excuse: but I am going to get so tired of eating the same stuff for 30 days straight

Truth: I never got bored. Sure, I missed certain things (cheese, chocolate, copious amounts of caffeine) but I made a game plan for each week and I never allowed myself to be unprepared. I downloaded the Nom Nom Paleo app for iPad and used many of her Whole30 recipes for dinner. I kid you not, those were some of the tastiest meals I have ever made. In fact, Mike has asked me to save the recipes for when I am off the plan.

Excuse: I am so busy. This just isn’t a good season of life…maybe I could do it next month.

Truth: There is never a good time. I started my Whole30 late because I kept doubting myself but finally decided to start cold turkey. I literally gave up my way of eating overnight. I was able to adhere strictly to the plan even while spending hours at the hospital for Brielle’s tests, all of her doctor appointments, Logan dealing with the flu and asthma, and even the emergency trip I made to my cardiologist. It is all about being prepared with easily accessible snacks and protein options.

I am not going to lie and say this is the easiest thing I have ever done. It is a challenge and that is why they name it so. It takes will power, self-control and effort. Don’t all great rewards come from HARD work? So the truth is, YOU have to decide if you are ready to do the hard work.

Trust me, you CAN do it.

I wish that I could tell you have I have unlimited energy and haven’t slept better in years. The truth is, I was hoping this would drastically change my chronic health issues, and it didn’t really do anything in that regard. It was empowering in the sense that now I know clean eating isn’t the easy answer and fix all. It was also disappointing because when you give up so much of what comforts and dulls your pain, you hope for some sort of trade off. I did get many great benefits, which I have already listed but sadly, I did not get a lot of the perks that other people on the challenge have had. My inflammation and joint pain stayed the same, my Gastroparesis symptoms were the same, and my POTS actually flared up the worst it has since I was on bed rest.

So what now?

I think I will stick with clean eating for the majority of my meals but will be incorporating more of a Gastroparesis approach. Liquid meals sit well with me and too much solid protein makes me feel sick. However, I don’t consider the Whole30 a bust for me. It taught me SO much about my views toward food. Plus, I have been dealing with Ehlers-Danlos, POTS, and Gastroparesis to a severe degree the last few years so I can’t expect complete resolution in 30 days. This is not a “fix it quick” scheme or even a “lose weight fast” plan. This is a CHALLENGE to help reset your body and empower you in the food you eat. It is incredibly strict and I, by no means, will keep up my current restrictions. That being said, I do plan on making wiser food choices as much as possible and limiting my “treats”. If I can do that, then this 30 days has truly changed my ways. It will be interesting to see how my body handles dairy, sugar, and caffeine for the first time. Who knows, maybe I will feel even worse and decide to cut some things out permanently.

Would I do it again?

I could definitely see myself trying this again in the future. After all, it is only 30 days of my life and I have proven to myself that I can do it!

Before/After Pictures:

Again, I only lost about 10 pounds so not a huge change. My clothes do feel looser and overall I can see the difference. I should note that I did not exercise. I used my elliptical twice and that’s it. I might have attempted to do more if I had the energy.

So if you are interested in doing your own challenge, it is never too late to start! Just check out the Whole30 website for information and support!

P.S. A HUGE thank you to my accountability partner through the last month. Becki, I could not have done this without you cheering me on!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!