Its only 30 days, 30 days eliminating foods that can potentially have a negative effect on your body
Before starting the Whole30 program I thought it would be easy. I was already gluten free, I already loved zoodles, cauliflower rice and sweet potatoes. I had given up alcohol before when I was pregnant and for fundraisers so I thought that 30 days would be a walk in the park. For the most part I found it educational and enjoyable however the first week was a tough one!
I didn’t think I ate too much sugar, but maybe I did… After Easter, my son’s birthday and Mother’s Day all within 4 weeks there was a lot of chocolate left in the house and I was probably eating it every day to get through our stock pile. I didn’t think it was right to leave that burden to my husband and children. Or at least that’s what I was telling myself.
While the first week of the Whole30 program was the hardest with a chronic headache lasting 4 days, being cranky for the rest of the first week due to the sugar withdrawals and adjusting to the low carbohydrate diet, the rest of the program was a great educational experience which left my body feeling amazing. I didn’t even think twice about missing out on a weekend alcoholic beverage. I had the best sleep in years. I felt more energetic and finding myself not only loving going to the gym but motivated to get up at 5am to get there before the kids woke up. Something that I never managed to do before.
Now for my disclaimer:
I tried my best to do the Whole30 program 100% compliant but there was one area that I didn’t comply with and that was breakfast. I don’t eat eggs, or anything that tastes like eggs such as quiche. I don’t like eating leftovers for breakfast (as I save them for lunches) and I don’t have a lot of time or desire for extra dishes to clean in the morning. Smoothies are discouraged on the Whole30 as the program encourages you to eat your food and learn about portion control. Smoothies are also a no-no due to the fact many are high in sugars from fruit. Smoothies were the one thing that I could not let go of. I did however make my own almond milk, added lots of spinach and kale, reduced the amount of fruit and used nuts for protein instead of commercial made protein powder. I recommend tasty-yummies carrot cake smoothie with hemp seeds for a great smoothie.
I also ate chia puddings for breakfast. These are again frowned upon by the Whole30 purists as they are technically a pudding which you are supposed to avoid. I made a carrot cake chia pudding sweetened with dates, carrots and spices and figured it was a chia porridge not a pudding with porridge being considered OK for breakfast – especially with an added serve of vegetables.
Whilst on the Whole30 program I said goodbye to sushi, corn chips, rice crackers, chocolate, all dairy, peas, corn, peanut butter, baked goods and alcohol. I still enjoyed my husband’s delicious BBQ meats with sugar free spice rubs, homemade paleo tomato and BBQ sauces, lots of nuts, salads, soups, stir fries, herbal teas and black coffee. One of the other treats that I enjoyed was biltong. I also managed to find a butcher that sold sugar free, nitrate free bacon and prosciutto.
Tips for success:
- Meal prep! Lots of meal prep. Throw some chicken breasts in the oven along with pumpkin or whole sweet potatoes. You can have them ready to go in the fridge for meals and salads.
- Make your own condiments – I love avocado mayonnaise and paleo tomato sauce.
- Cook in bulk for left overs. Bolognese sauce served with spaghetti squash or zoodles is perfect for dinner and is also delicious for lunch on a whole oven roasted sweet potato.
- Have raw mixed nuts or fruit on hand for those snack emergencies.
- Don’t miss out when the Husband makes jalapeno poppers. Make your own cashew cheese.
- Using left over almond pulp from making your own almond milk to make your own Whole30 crackers and serve these with cashew cheese. My favourite are from figgy and sprout.
- Enjoy a nibble plate for a shared dinner with cashew cheese, almond pulp crackers, cherry, carrots and celery sticks, tomatoes, strawberries and sugar-free prosciutto.
- Use sweet potato slices for toast – I find cooking them in the sandwich press to be the easiest way to ensure they are cooked within minutes.
- If needed make some Whole30 approved protein bars for breakfast or lunch on the run. Egg white protein is the perfect addition. We made fit mitten kitchen homemade protein bars [whole30].
Non Scale victories
Immune system
When I started the program I was at the end of a cold, it was actually four weeks of a sinus infection. Within a few days of Whole30 it had cleared up.
Sleep. Glorious sleep
Before you have children you don’t really know what sleep deprivation is. My youngest didn’t sleep through the night for the first 20 months. He had chronic ear infections and while grommets at 13 months stopped the infections he didn’t get the message about sleeping through the night without the need for someone to comfort him back to sleep 2 or 3 times a night. While on the program I was sleeping deeply. So deeply that there were mornings that I slept through my husband’s alarm. After the first few weeks of playing catch up with sleep I was feeling so refreshed I started waking up early to go to the gym before the rest of the family woke up.
Sugar
I got control of those sugar cravings. I don’t feel the need for the sugar pick me up to get me through the day.
Alcohol
I don’t feel the need for my weekend (or weekday) glasses of wine. While alcohol is just empty calories and tends to lead to poor food choices I truly believe its been the root cause of my poor sleep.
Body changes
In terms of the body changes yes I lost weight and yes my pants are looser (I think mostly due to less bloating). I’ve enjoyed seeing a positive change in how I feel emotionally, my energy levels being up and my deep sleep.
Great Whole30 recipe ideas can be found at the following websites:
Kelsey who runs this blog is the inventor of sweet potato toast, who also shares her Whole30 journey and how she found her food freedom.
http://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/
The homemade protein bars got me through those sugar cravings when I needed a breakfast or lunch on the go.
