The Whole 30

So, I committed myself to doing the Whole 30 for the month of September.

I've been crossfitting for over a year now, and I've come to realize that the 80/20 rule is probably true.

It's 80% what you eat and 20% what you do for exercise that gets you results.

I decided I was done wasting my time working out with little results, and after reading "It Starts with Food", was convinced that this was what I needed- the Whole 30.

After 6 weeks of traveling and eating out most meals, something needed to change!  

I've done Weight Watchers and other diet plans in the past, but this one is different.

It's a lifestyle plan.  No, I don't plan on never eating a grain again or never taking another sip of Coke (of course!), but this process is supposed to be life-changing enough that you remember how you felt when you ate good, nutritious food that wasn't processed (and topped it off with a bunch of water).

That's what I love about it- it's real food- nothing processed, nothing fake.

That's also what I hate about it- it's real food that requires purchasing, chopping, refrigerating, keeping fresh, cooking and plating.  It's time consuming and requires a lot of planning.  Have you ever made homemade mayo?  I have now.

Today I am on Day 6, and I already feel like it's worth it.

Yes, I've wanted a Coke, but I just stick a few lemon slices into my ice cold water and move on.

And keep telling myself, "It's only 30 days".

I haven't had a whole lot of energy- I hear my body is beginning to burn fat instead of sugar- but it's supposed to come back around day 15.  Not the fat, the energy.  

So far my favorite things about the Whole 30 are...

- My kids eat better.  They eat what I eat a lot of the time.

- I eat at home and don't spend money eating out.

-I'm more relaxed.  Maybe it's because I don't have the caffeine?

- I have a great support system and we are all cheering each other on!

- Bananas dipped in almond butter

My not-so-favorite things about the Whole 30 are...

- Running the dishwasher 4x per day!

- Being in a hurry and knowing there isn't anything easy to grab and go.

- A boring month of very little date nights and fun activities planned- because fun always includes food!

One of my favorite parts of the book says this....

"The Whole30 is our unique program designed to change your life in thirty days.  Think of it as a short-term nutritional reset, designed to help you restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation, and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits and relationships with food.  The premise is simple.

Certain food groups (like sugar, grains, dairy and legumes) are probably having a negative impact on your health and fitness without you even realizing it.  Are your energy levels inconsistent or nonexistent? Do you have aches and pains that can't be explained by overuse or injury?  Is it almost impossible for you to lose weight no matter how hard you try?  Do you have undesirable health condition (like skin disruptions, digestive trouble, chronic pain or infertility) that medication hasn't alleviated? As you now know, these ailments are directly impacted by the foods you eat- even the "healthy" stuff. 

I'm excited to see what my Whole 30 does for me!