Well, I did it! As of yesterday, I completed my first Whole30 eating plan. I wanted to share my experience, and how it fits in with my overall wellness journey. A journey that began when I quit drinking and started piecing together a lifestyle that I believe will lead to my “best self.”
As I shared in a prior post on my eating habits, my motivation for doing Whole30 was to eliminate sugar and processed foods from my diet and witness the transformation. Since it is an elimination diet, many people try it to see whether certain foods they are consuming are problematic to their health, or if they have food-specific intolerance or sensitivities (i.e. dairy, gluten, carbs). I have never had a problem with certain foods or ingredients; in fact maybe the opposite, my problem is that I have no problem with food!
Anyway, after enduring a month of no sugar, no dairy, no grains or legumes, no carbs (except from fruit) and a bunch of other no’s, I am pleased with the results and glad I stuck it out. I was a week into the plan when the world went sideways and I saw everyone around me stocking up on alcohol and junk food, and toilet paper. I am glad I stayed the course and continued the plan. While I have felt firm in my choice not to drink, I know if I hadn’t had the structure of this plan in place, my healthy eating would have turned to stress-eating, loneliness-eating, and “screw-it”-eating.
Results, please
So, three plus weeks into our stay at-home order, I can report many positive changes as a result of completing Whole30:
- Weight loss of over 9 pounds in 30 days. This brings me to a 37 pound loss since I quit drinking a year ago (my goal is 40 pounds).
- Flatter stomach, better fitting clothes. I was exercising the other day and my daughter (my shadow) said, “Mommy, your butt is cute now. It’s not fat anymore.” Thank you, love.
- More energy and the motivation to work out consistently. I feel myself getting leaner and stronger. I’ve added weights to my cardio routine and I actually want to work out daily. Of course, having the time now helps too.
- A changed attitude toward junk food. I now look at the boxed, packaged snacks with the same realization I had when I quit drinking. They do nothing for me.
- An improved mindset and relationship with food. I’m reading and learning about nutrition and how the things we put into our bodies either help our body systems or harm them. It is a new motivational challenge for me to discover and eat the types of food that will keep my body running and functioning at an optimal level.
- A desire to make healthy eating a lifestyle. I’m cooking more and enjoying it; using real, colorful, flavorful, natural ingredients. I am being creative and trying new things. Choosing to eat things not out of convenience or comfort, but because I like they way these foods taste, look, and make me feel.
I will say it was an extra challenge to do this during such an uncertain, emotional time. When I learned my husband wouldn’t be coming home, it took everything I had not to reach for the cookie dough (and eat it raw). But I am learning that I am stronger than I thought, these days.
So now what?
I will say that I am going to go back to the most healthy unhealthy creamer I can find in my coffee. Can’t stand the bitterness that was once my sweet excuse to get out of bed. And I am not going to deny myself the pleasure of chocolate once in awhile. We just needed some distance to clarify the boundaries.
But this past month has cemented by desire to stay on the path of eating real, healthful food. I bought several of Brittany Williams‘ cookbooks, Instant Loss and Instant Loss: Eat Real Lose Weight, and I have weeks of recipes and meal plans mapped out. This superstar lost 125 pounds by using her Instant Pot to make healthy meals. She has also developed tasty, kid-friendly alternatives to a lot of processed-food favorites. I am looking forward to the arrival of 100 Days of Real Food by Lisa Leake, as a recommendation from a lovely fellow blogger, https://letitgocoach.com/. I’ve also been making my way through the Podcast The Feel Good Effect hosted by Robyn Conley Downs and I highly recommend it if you’re a Podcast kind of person. She has a great lineup of guests and experts in the wellness field who share tips and insights on what it means to be healthy. Her website, Real Food Whole Life, also has an abundance of recipes, meal plans, shopping lists and resources to get started.
Can you tell I’m excited?
This is a good “project” for me to start on during this time. A healthy distraction and something to fill my hours of waiting, hoping and trusting that things WILL get better. And when they do, I will emerge stronger, healthier and ready to jump back into life. A much better alternative than being weaker, unhealthier and ready to give up, don’t you think?
Wow, that’s amazing! I’m trying to lose a few pounds and trying out weight watchers for a while. Annoyingly I put the weight ON when I stopped drinking, quite possibly due to replacing all the sugar by stuffing sweets into my face instead… Not sure I could do a strict diet but then again I always detested the idea of ANY diet and here we are on week 3 and I’m doing OK! Not lost much (2 kilos) but focusing on the long game. 🙂 xx
That’s what you have to do with any major lifestyle change, right? Take it one day at a time but focus on the long game! Xx
Yes! ❤️
I intrigued by this and know I really have to do something about my diet. Like Anna, I gained weight after giving up booze and now I have a very toxic relationship with crappy, easy to grab, foods. My skin is awful and I lack energy. I’m going to start reading and researching, just like I did when I gave up the drink. I need something new to get my brain and body into! Well done you. You are one strong lady xxx
Claire, that’s what I did…waited until I felt like I needed to make a change (didn’t force it when I was focusing on not drinking). But then I felt ready and started researching and found it really interesting. I was amazed at all of the health conditions that could be improved by a proper diet, including all the autoimmune diseases, blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, and even mental health conditions. I think it has to do with the way we were supposed to eat and how those nutrient dense foods keep us healthy and feeling good as opposed to fake food with all the additives we can’t pronounce. I wish you all the best with figuring out what will work for you. It’s a fascinating and worthwhile journey, and I felt it was a natural next step after eliminating poison from my diet! 🙂 Xx
Any reading recommendations greatly appreciated xxx
I’m so happy for you!!!! Way to go!!!!!
It becomes a lifestyle, and once you start, there’s no going back. Your pantry will begin to look different too. No boxed meals, and very few cans. I’m thrilled you bought Lisa’s cookbook, and thank you darling for the mention. You will love it. Simple, whole food goodness. <3
Thank you, dear one! That’s what I want is for it to be a lifestyle change…a continuation of the wellness journey I started when I stopped drinking. I’m excited to read Lisa’s book…you know she has three? I might have to spring for all of them if the first is as good as you say. Stay well. Xx
My pleasure lovely! I hope you enjoy it. Be well. xx
Wow! That’s a lot of weight! Well done!
I’ll have to check it out!
xo
Wendy
Thank you Wendy! Hope you are well! Xx
You are on a roll, Wow! Definitely motivating me – congrats😊
Thank you, Dwight. It’s something worthwhile to focus on! Hope you are well! Xx
That’s a really interesting post that I intend rereading and passing on to a few people. Genuinely helpful , nice one! X
Jim, I’m so glad you got something out of it. I think there is something to eating the things we were meant to eat to get the nutrients we need, instead of ingesting “fake food” with additives we can’t pronounce. Make sense to me! Hope you’re well!
I’m eating lots of the good stuff but just about to eat two huge croissants- I can’t help myself😉 and yes I’m good thanks and you you continue to be so.x
🥳 Fantastic! So inspiring, and thank you for the cookbook tips!!! Love it.
Thanks, Leafy. It’s been an interesting and worthwhile project to take on while my husband is away. Getting the kids on board is a bit more difficult! Hope you are well! Xx
Congratulations on being so close to your goal, so fast! That’s a big win.
Thanks, Jim! I’m looking at it similarly to my sobriety. Taking it one day at time but keeping in mind the long game. I think that’s how we make lasting change.
Wow sorry I missed this before! Too awesome Collette. I don’t think I could ever cut out all that lol. Not for that long anyway. I was griping about not really losing right now but from what I’m hearing out there lots of people are gaining so staying even isn’t so bad. I’ve noticed that when I do splurge I really enjoy the sweet snack or whatever it is… rather than shoveling and barely tasting it. Anyway… way to go!!!
Congratulations! Awesome and inspiring! 🙂
Nice! I’m thinking about trying whole 30… I enjoyed reading about your experience
Thank you. Definitely a good way to clean up your diet…I will say almost six months later, that sugar snuck its way back into my diet. That is the hardest thing for me to give up!