A little over a month ago, I had a really rough day. I couldn’t walk straight, my head was all over the place and I got really, REALLY scared about what was going on. I told Aunt Sarah, and she asked what I’d had to eat that day. The answer was… not much.
I shared about my food intolerances last month, but I didn’t get around to telling you something that had happened over Labor Day weekend. I had a gall bladder attack. The first time since I went to the ER two years ago. and I was so emotionally distraught over it. I’d made each decision on my own – the ice cream, the cheese… I made every choice. But I responded by avoiding all food.
It was a Friday. By Sunday, I had made my decision, and stocked up. I was going to start Whole 30. I’d been researching it, and it seemed like a really good move for where I was at.
Can I just say that I NEVER finish anything that I start? Haha. I knew that, so I didn’t make my Whole 30 journey very public. I wrote about it a few times on Instagram, but aside from that I didn’t publicize it.
But I made it. I finished Whole 30, and I am SO PROUD of myself. Here’s what I learned:
- I can eat the same thing every day. Literally. Eggs with peppers + chicken apple sausage for breakfast, and either a Trader Joe’s Chili Lime burger w/guac or chicken + asparagus for lunch or dinner.
- There is SO MUCH freedom in restriction. So much so that after two days off of Whole30… I’m starting again. I suddenly had ALL THE CHOICES IN THE WORLD and couldn’t figure out what to eat. Don’t want to go back to that.
- Avoiding sugar isn’t as awful as you’d think. There were definitely days when I wanted a cookie. Right now, I could probably eat either a cookie or a BIG SCOOP of cookie DOUGH (which is actually better than cookies, can I get an amen??) but I don’t NEED to have it. I will survive without it.
- Creamer isn’t as important as the experience of handcrafted espresso beverages. When I finally got the creamer back, I was slightly underwhelmed. What I was REALLY missing was the opportunity to get mochas. Mochas are my ultimate love language, I guess.
- Food affects my emotions. Aside from the few days leading up to and through my period (which are just the worst, no matter what), I FELT emotionally well. I felt less irritable or cranky or sad. I just felt better.
- Eating food is the secret to losing weight…. but eating the RIGHT food. I KNOW I KNOW… I’m not supposed to weigh myself on Whole 30, but I did because I was SO SCARED I’d be gaining tons of weight because I was eating more often. But I didn’t! I actually lost about 11 lbs (which means total I’ve lost 54 lbs). I just need to work on eating the correct foods.
- Coconut oil has a lot of calories. Ghee doesn’t. Just saying.
- WHOLE 30 IS FREAKING EXPENSIVE. I’ve started to figure out what foods I really like (mashed sweet potatoes, hello!) so going to the store is a little easier… it also helps that I basically cannot purchase anything that is within the inner aisles of the grocery store, just what’s on the outside in the produce and meat areas. But you know what? I’m okay with that.
- Like I mentioned.. today I went to the store and stocked up on Whole30 approved foods, because tomorrow I’m going at it again.
Have you done Whole 30? Tell me.Â
ps sorry not sorry this post has no pictures.
What is ghee?! Okay, silly question, I’ll just go Google it. 🙂 I LOVE sweet potatoes and for some reason never buy them. I think I’m scared to buy potatoes because they take longer to cook. Haha so lazy over here.
Ghee is butter fat I believe! I’ve never tried it though.
ghee is clarified butter – they boil off the water and milk parts. that’s about all i know, bhahahaa.
sweet potatoes are my new thing. mashed sweet potatoes? oh gosh. i’m gonna be doing that plus some cinnamon and eating it FOR DESSERT, i think!! you should try whole 30 for a week ;D
What guide ar eyou using for your Whole30 challenge? Maybe I’m being inspired..
I HOPE YOU ARE! i actually don’t really have a guide. i spent the first week or so CONSTANTLY referencing the list of things i can/can’t have, and then i kind of just figured it out. luckily because i’m fairly paleo anyway, it wasn’t TONS of hard work – i already don’t eat a lot of the stuff that’s hard for people to cut out (grains + dairy) so for me it was mainly the sugar and soy parts that i had to be really careful about. YOU SHOULD DO IT!!!
wow that sounds awesome! congratulations 🙂 Whole30 sounds like a really great dive into healthy living. Cooking healthier stuff can sometimes be more expensive than buying processed junk, but I like to think of it as saving medical expenses for years down the road, as well as just being happier. Real food makes me happy 🙂
THANKS!!! whole30 is amazing. it’s changed my life. TRUE STORY on the cost element! when i was first lamenting about the cost to my mentor, she pointed out how much money i’d be saving on my daily mochas, so i tried to remember that. plus it’s so worth it… you can’t really put a cost on your health, you know??
I’ve never tried it, but my s-i-l has and she had great results! I’ve done a similar plan I made up on my own ( I didn’t cut out dairy, but I ate mostly whole!) and it was great. I’d love to try actual Whole 30, but I keep putting it off. I love me some cheese! And cream in my coffee lol
the coffee creamer. i’m telling you, that’s the hardest part. i definitely had an advantage, being dairy-free prior to whole 30, but still. the SUGAR. oh my gosh. the sugarrrrr. by the end of it i wanted a cookie so badly, bahahha. you should round up some friends and do whole30 together! though maybe wait for a few months unless you feel brave enough to do it during the holidays ;D
I’m planning on starting the Whole30 next week but I also tend to give on things like this and I really really like cheese. The fact that you’re continuing to eat whole30 after completing the first 30 days is totally inspiring though!
AHHH YAY!!! you’re going to be doing whole30!!! i just started round 2 today so we’ll be on it together!!! i’m so excited! team work makes the dream work 😀 DO NOT GIVE UP!
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! Whole30 is really hard and that’s an awesome accomplishment. Secondly, Whole30 is SOOOOO expensive. I think it’s because all of the meat and because I can’t eat the same thing every day and wanted to try all the recipes. And I’m just not very good at staying on my grocery budget anyways.
YAY!!!!! thanks!!!! see i’m lucky in that i CAN eat the same thing every day – so i just always had chicken meat, chicken burgers + ground beef ready to consume. I wish i was brave enough to know how to cook fish, because i freaking love fish. i’m hoping this time around to be a little more daring. <3