Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend! I want to continue on the topic of the Whole 30 and how it CHANGED my life. First off the Whole 30 is a 30 program which I followed. It is not a diet and is meant to be a reset to your body and over all approach to food. During that 30 days I noticed so many things both subtle and drastic. I noticed I was sleeping better, I had more energy and enjoyed working out more and I even had a better attitude. If anyone knows me they know I generally hated going to the gym and after 30 minutes I would give up. Not anymore! Thank goodness for my best friend sticking by my side and never giving up on me during our workout dates! She made it fun and I learned so much! My stomach didn’t seem to be upset after every single meal I ate. I was enjoying food so much more. I became more aware of the ingredients in the food I was buying and also eating out. I noticed I had no more guilt around counting calories and in fact stopped counting them once I started the program. I had always hated counting calories!!! I wasn’t hungry the way I was before. I started losing weight. It was challenging and also like a fun experiment.
I realized it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be! I had a whole network of family and friends cheering me on. This part is very important! I challenge you to do this and find someone to do it with. I’m not sure I would have been as successful in the completion without the help of those supporting me. I made gym dates with friends and family. I started cooking a lot more. I also started telling my clients about my journey. I loved their feedback. The more I told people what I was doing, the more they offered their stories to me. One of my clients told me that after finishing the whole 30 and changing her over all approach to food her autoimmune disorder vanished! She had said her bloodwork came back and no sign of the autoimmune disorder could be detected! Wow! Another client of mine, a nutritionist, told me she recommended the program to many of her patients, especially those with diabetes! I was so excited to see what this program had in store for me! The book has so many amazing recipes that are easy to follow and plan for. It also has some more challenging recipes for those that like to experiment. Whether you have a hectic life or are a foodie there is something for everyone.
During those 30 days
Sugar withdrawal was a real thing for me! I found it a little weird! I started dreaming about ice cream sandwiches. LOL. I even yelled at my boss one day. Thank goodness she was cool and we laughed it off after I told her I cut the sugar out of my diet! I apologized to her and realized how dependent on sugar I had been. I also realized sugar and its derivatives were hidden in so many of the foods that I had previously considered to be healthy. Don’t worry those sugar cravings subsided and I had an even happier disposition. I also realized how much dairy had affected me. I always had felt a little sick after having coffee with cream, ice cream and cheese. I didn’t miss that feeling AT ALL! Fruit, Lara bars and RX bars were my savior in curbing those sugar cravings. Almond milk and coconut milk were becoming regular staples in my home instead of milk. I had been to the grocery store more than I ever remembered. Just a few tips to help along the way should you decide you want to start on your own journey:
Clear out or move anything out of your cupboard that isn’t Whole 30 approved to avoid temptation. I did this and I’m so glad I did.
Meal prep for those busy days ahead. I roast butternut squash, regular potatoes and sweet potatoes ahead of time and store them in the fridge because they take a little longer to cook. I cut them up and pop them in the oven while I’m showering. I am not the best multi tasker so I set a timer! ;) They also taste amazing reheated. Try making egg cups with veggies for breakfast that you can heat and go! These were a game changer for me. I will include my favorite recipe.
Read your labels and if you have the funds buy a Whole 30 starter kit! They sell these now but didn’t when I started!
Plan out your daily/weekly meals like you would your work or gym clothes. It makes life a heck of a lot easier so your not scrounging around when you’re ready to eat. Also in 2018 Walmart introduced a line of Whole 30 approved frozen bowls. SO EASY!
Pack a few healthy snacks to curb your sugar cravings and stay hydrated.
If you find yourself getting annoyed going to the grocery store, order your food online. Make it easier on yourself.
Check out the Whole 30 website and also the Whole 30 program on instagram as well as Whole 30 recipes on Instagram. Some of these folks blow my mind with their amazing recipes, helpful tips and success stories!
I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.
Love, Sharon