Ok so I am going to be honest, many times we start and stop meal plans like we change our clothes. I was guilty for it, always looking for the next best thing. This is not the right approach to facilitating change but we all do it. So after finishing a green smoothie cleanse I thought I was on a role. I had lost a couple of pounds and life was looking good. I started reintroducing certain foods into my diet and not consuming a ton of carbs, trying to be healthy. Do you know what I mean? Then I stumbled upon the Whole 30. I think the first time I attempted the program was a little over a year ago. One of my co- workers had the book and I asked about it. When she described it to me she said it was not a diet it was a life style change. Hearing her describe it in that manner interested me. Instead of looking for a quick fix, I entertained the fact that their could be something wrong with my lifestyle. I started doing the research.
What is the whole 30? It is a life style change that resets your health, habits and relationships with food. For 30 days the program eliminates foods demonstrated by science and the author’s experience to promote unhealthy cravings and habits, disrupt your metabolism, damage your digestive tract and burden your immune system. After the 30 days you reintroduce these foods back into your system and pay close attention to how they impact your mood, cravings, energy, sleep and digestion. ( Find more information on page 2 of The Whole 30 book)
Eager to start any thing that could fix my mentality and my figure I started reading, preparing my grocery list and then shopping. My grocery store experience should have been enough to turn me completely off of this Food Freedom Adventure. It took me hours to search for compliant foods. Everything has sugar in it. I mean literally everything. No wonder more than one – third of US adults have obesity. I finally just settled for standard meats, veggies and fruits. I learned that you definitely have to pick your grocery store wisely. In my area I should have started out at HEB. They have more of a variety. I also found a Natural Grocery store not to far from me that has some good products. After I finished shopping, it was time to meal prep. I cooked mostly easy combinations. Over complicating things was out of the question, I stuck with whole 30 made easy. One of my favorite dishes contained cauliflower rice and salmon. I also made chicken breast with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and green peppers with a side of diced sweet potatoes drizzled with coconut oil and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The Spinach Frittata (page 206) was a go to for me in the morning. I found this whole 30 compliant bacon at Sam’s Club which is amazing! Slowly but surely I eased my way through the program. The first week was a doozy for me. I had the worst head ache from missing my sweeteners and late night snacks. Oh did I forget to mention whats all on NO, NO list.
- No: added sugar of any kind (maple syrup, honey , agave, coconut sugar, equal xylitol, stevia) alcohol, grains, legumes, or dairy. do not consume baked goods or treats and no weighing yourself.
- Yes: Eat meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit and natural fats
So yes I definitely had a head ache, the chunky girl inside me wanted a Starbucks Salted Carmel Mocha with a Bacon and Gouda sandwich. This was only the first of many other cravings I had. After the first week it definitely got easier I just had to retrain my mind. It felt like I needed certain things and I realized that my mood dictated what I ate. I guess you could also call me a social eater too. This means I just ate because others where eating around me. My mentality had to completely change. Food is meant to fuel your body and give you energy. Many of the things I craved for did the exact opposite. After wrestling with my emotions for a couple of weeks I really started to enjoy creating meals with different foods. I had this new-found food awakening where I craved brussels sprouts, asparagus, kale and many other things that where once non-existent to me.
This program is amazing ! It educated me on some of the unhealthy habits I had while also transforming me into a more food conscious, label reading health guru. Before, I really never paid attention to the labels other than how many calories a product contained. The Whole 30 changed that for me it is a great program and I highly recommend it. Please see below for links that supported me on my journey.
linkinprofile.com/whole30recipes
❤️Tiffany Roshell
3 Times the Faith 