I finished my Whole30 month on October 31st! (For those of you who are unfamiliar with the program and when I started, please see my original post here.) Through the Whole30 experience, I learned that what I ate directly correlated to why my body was the way it was. When I cut out all of the desserts that I was snacking on like cookies, donuts, ice-cream sandwiches, danishes and mini-pies, I really did notice a difference by the second week in how much my bloating was a result of simply eating all of that sugar. Then I realized just how much sugar was in my diet that wasn’t in the form of a dessert, which included drinks like flavoured creams in my coffee, soda, fruit punches, and even in places that you wouldn’t suspect like soups and sauces.
Since the end of my 30 day run, I still find myself eating the same way that I had been during the Whole30, but I added just a bit of what I was missing like dairy and grains. Even if I feel like I can have a day where I eat a couple of slices of pizza, I still keep my diet fairly the same as I did on the Whole30. I stopped drinking soda completely because I cannot stand the taste any longer, and I still drink my tea and coffee black, without sugar or cream. I did have a little chocolate and a couple of cookies because I wanted just a little bit of what I have missed, but I find that I’m now turning to my favorite frozen banana dessert (post with recipe here), fresh fruit and cashews rather than anything sugary. Part of the program calls for really thinking about why you are eating: Is it to satisfy a craving, or are you really hungry? If I was hungry, then I remembered this statement: If you feel you are truly hungry, can you eat a whole meal that includes fish and broccoli? If you can eat an entire meal, then you are truly hungry and you should eat a meal. If you aren’t, then either drink water or have a snack. It was during these times that I did want to eat that I turned to cashews, dried and fresh fruit or even just a glass of water or fresh juice. As I post this, I’m reading the section from the site called “Ride Your Own Bike“, which states that you can always hop back on to another Whole30 program to reset yourself if you feel you have really begun to go down that path of eating poorly again.
To show the physical results of being on the Whole30 program, I included two deceptive pictures, which look quite the same at first glance. The picture on the left is from a previous outfit post. The secret about the pictures in that outfit post is that I had to retake some of the shots a few times because I needed to reposition myself to avoid an unflattering angle. I’m also wearing a slip that is similar to Spanks to help smooth out areas of my body that I felt needed a little help and I used the purse to hide bulges in my mid-section.
In the new picture on the right, I am wearing the same dress…and that’s pretty much it. No help from any special undergarments and no need to stand a certain way, or use an accessory to hide my mid-section. I lost a total of six pounds on the Whole30, my face looks a lot slimmer and I lost a dress size because I was no longer bloated. I fit back in things that I still had in my closet prior to my pregnancy four years ago, and even a few things that I had just bought last year!
It may seem very “cult-ish” when talking about the Whole30 as a program and the guidance that it offers. But really, it all comes down to what you believe you need in our life. When Vahni from Grit & Glamour mentioned that a group was going to start the Whole30 program at the beginning of October, I felt that I needed it to reset my system. Later, it actually helped me get through a bit of a setback: In the middle of my Whole30 challenge, I lost my job. Usually when I’m faced with adversity, I turn to food for comfort. Since I was in the midst of the Whole30 program, I used as a way to challenge myself and not turn to food, but rather channel my energy into cleaning my home, spending oodles of time with my son and husband, and search for a new job (hopefully, I will be closer to finding one when this posts).
If you have tried everything you could to diet or eat healthier but just coudn’t figure a way to do it, you should try the Whole30. Who knows? You may even turn it into a Whole60, Whole90 or your whole life. It truly is a great way to start understanding why you eat the way you do, and how it directly affects your body. After the Whole30, you can either choose to continue, or go back to your former ways. Either way, it will change your life. It changed mine.
I am so proud/happy/in awe of you! Congrats on finishing your first Whole30. That itself is an achievement. Congrats on losing weight, kicking the soft drinks forever, and for sticking with it even when you faced a major life event! That is HUGE! Let’s face it, we ALWAYS have something stressing us, so it’s really no excuse to go off the wagon.
I can see the dress fitting your better…you look tiny! And HELLO LEGS! Wow, you’ve got a great set of pins.
I’ve unfortunately gone back to sweetener in my coffee…but now it’s almond milk + stevia drops. I do allow indulgences, but I no longer drink during the week, and I basically avoid carbs, grains, soy, and peanuts. I also know that I can’t have wine, beer, or cheap seafood salad or pre-packaged boiled shrimp because they are loaded in sulfites that my body just can’t handle.
It’s the revelations that you have on Whole30 that really make the difference. Sure, weight loss is nice. But know what REALLY works for you or against you is the biggest takeaway.
Congrats again, lovely!
Thank you Vahni! I couldn’t have done if I hadn’t read your success story, and the fact that you wanted to do it again. I really did feel very successful, and I have also fallen off the wagon a bit since I wrote this, but I know I can hop right back on because I know what it takes to do it. I still don’t drink soda and drink my coffee and teas black. I also try to remember to drink water or fresh juice in lieu of eating when I have a craving. But I did discover a lot about my eating habits, especially after the Whole30, and I really notice what I did to cause my poor eating.
I’m glad we had the support group and I thank you all for my success! Here’s to another Whole30 after the holidays!
xoxo
WOW! Congrats! You look great! I’ve was just talking to my sis today about how I eat too many sweets and I feel sluggish all the time. This post is inspiring to look and feel healthier.
Heidi
Hello Heidi!
Thank you so much! The Whole30 really is a great way to examine what you eat and how it affects you. You will learn alot about yourself and habits…and get on your way to a healthier you!
Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
xoxo
CONGRATS! I am so impressed with all the bloggers who took on this challenge. I can’t wait to give it a shot (after I have my baby – currently pregnant!). It seems to have so many great benefits. You look great!
Thanks Alexis! First off, congrats on your baby! Definitely after your pregnancy would be a better place to start. It really was a great to have the support of so many people because we all gathered information and bounced off ideas and thoughts. Plus, the recipes everyone shared was fantastic!
xoxo
Congratulations on your success and great new knowledge!! And I like your new, easy positioning…good from all angles! 😉 I completed my Whole30 on September 30 and just continued on with only an occasional addition here or there to see how my body reacted. It’s amazing what you learn about your body when you eliminate those inflammation triggers.
Enjoy the new and improved you!!
Thank you so much, and you are right…it’s amazing to see what happened afterwards once I finished the Whole30. I did have some sweets and instantly felt more tired and sluggish. I know after Thanksgiving, I’ll be more Whole30 compliant because I want to kick my espresso dependency completely, and I nearly did while on the Whole30!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
xoxo
Whole9’s original program designed to change your life in 30 days. Think of it as a short-term nutritional reset, designed to help you restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food. Since 2009, thousands of people have used our program as a jump-start to changing the way they eat for the rest of their lives. To get started on your Whole30 program, check out our new Whole30® Daily service, the program details, and real-life testimonials below.
More importantly, here’s what NOT to eat during the duration of your Whole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help you discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness and quality of life.