Our Whole30 Journey

Guess what?!?  It has been 30 days (actually it has been more than 30 days now)

Tuesday was the last day of our Whole30 challenge and many of you are asking about it -how do we feel?  Was it a success?  How could we really give up ______________ (insert the food you love most here)?

Well, I’m going to share our Whole30 Journey with you today, so grab the beverage of your choice (I’m having my coffee black) and get cozy!

Let me first start by telling you what we saw when we got on the scale on early Wednesday morning (5:40am early) for our weigh in.  I lost 12 pounds and Luke lost 21 pounds.  What? I couldn’t believe my eyes.  I’ve been trying to lose weight for ages and have tried exercising loads to no avail.  We felt like we were losing weight during the month but on the Whole30 they prefer you to hold off to weigh and measure for the whole thirty days so you don’t get down if you haven’t lost so much or if you’ve gained weight.

We felt like we were losing inches.  Luke had to keep adjusting his belt and I’m happy to report I no longer have a belly that is making my yoga pants roll down. In terms of inches Luke lost 4 from his waist and chest.  I lost 2 inches from my chest and 4 inches from my waist.  Woot woot! We’re actually going to the Boden Sample Sale tomorrow and I’m hoping to get some new frocks!

Luke and I together have lost almost what our youngest son weighs!  Can you believe it?

But there is more to this than just numbers.  Go ahead, ask me how I feel!!!

I feel the best I have ever felt!  I haven’t felt this good EVER!  EVER!  Even on a vacation sipping cocktails on St. John!

From getting rid of alcohol, sugar, processed foods and dairy for thirty days I have:

More Energy

A clear head – I no longer feel groggy when I wake up

More patience with the kids

Lighter

Not so frazzled

HAPPY

So, we’ve decided that we’re going to stick with this and make this our way of life. We are both feeling so great.  I also would like to lose another 7-10 pounds and I think Luke wants to lose another 20.  But things take time and we didn’t put it all on in thirty days.  I do know that my body is telling me, yes, this is the way and before I was poisoning it with what I was deciding to put in my mouth.

Do you want to try the Whole30?!?  If so here are some of our tips for a successful thirty days:

Our Whole30 Tips

Find a tribe 

Do this with your husband, friends or coworkers.  My husband took this journey with me and I’m so thankful for that.  If I had to make a different meal than the one he and the kids were having then I’m not sure I would have stuck with it.  I also had an online group of girls who kept me accountable. I didn’t want to cheat because I knew they were hanging in there!

Print out the handouts from the Whole30 site.

Print these out and take them to the grocery store with you when you do your weekly shop.  Sugar can be in a lot of things and it can be pretty sneaky.

Watch Fed Up and Food Inc

These two documentaries are eye opening and, at the same time, very discouraging.  One thinks when they grocery shop that the supermarket there is so much choice.  I mean, look at all those aisle of food.  But really most of that stuff is only things that resemble food.  Processed food is NOT good for your body.  It is filled with sugar and chemicals and addictive substances.  Fed Up likens sugar to cocaine.  Sugar is as addictive as cocaine and our brains on cocaine and on sugar light up the same way, which is why food manufacturers are putting sugar in EVERYTHING – cereal, bread, tomato sauce, taco seasoning.  Most bacon has sugar!  Look at your labels because I’m pretty sure you’ll be surprised to see what has sugar added that doesn’t even need it.  I was so surprised!

Schedule a day to prep your food.

On Sundays we get some stuff ready for the week.  We boil eggs for salads, roast vegetables for omelets (for breakfasts), we grill a bunch of chicken breasts.  If stuff is already prepped I don’t have the excuse of heating up frozen pizza or chicken fingers and fries due to lack of time.

 Read It Starts With Food

It Starts with Food is the book by the creators of the Whole30.  It really helps to find out why you need to cut out certain foods for a month and they also do a great job explaining the chemistry of what goes on in your body.  Oh, and they are super funny!  So it is an enjoyable read.

What to cook?

I modified recipes that we already love.  My bolognese sauce I made sure was with no sugar sauce and over spaghetti squash.  I’ve also modified a favorite chili recipe which I serve in sweet potatoes, and we love coconut and chicken soup – both of which I’ll share real soon.

The Clothes That Make the Girl has some amazing recipes on it.  One of my favorites is her pad thai with spaghetti squash and sunshine sauce.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.  We also bought her book Well Fed, which is a great read and reference. Tacos are a favorite on Tuesdays and I shared how to make these yummy ones here.

If you want something satisfying I recommend apples with almond or cashew butter and we’re also LOVING frozen berries!

Go out to eat!

We went out a lot on this plan and you can do it.  Try to look for grilled meats or fish, salads, roasted veg.  Luke thinks going out for thai was the hardest to find compliant foods because all the noodles, rice and peanuts. BEST place is Chipotle!

Take one day at a time.

Like me, you are only human, take one day at a time. Some days will be harder than others.  For example, while I was out shoveling from the blizzard a glass of wine AND a brownie was sounding very nice.  I came in and made a cup of tea instead.

So I guess, what I’m trying to say to you all in a very rambling way is this: we only get one chance in life. We only get one chance to be the best and healthiest we can. Why not try to help make our bodies healthier by being more aware of what we’re putting in them?  This eating plan has changed our lives and we are going to continue to eat clean.  We are no longer buying processed food and I’m opting to give the kids fresh fruits and veggies for snacks.  Yes, they still have chicken nuggets here and there and cookies, but I really don’t want Luke and I or our kids to have the health problems that run in our families (diabetes, arteriolosclerosis, heart disease etc).

If you decide to try the Whole30 I know you’ll feel a million times better than you do today.