{"id":2911,"date":"2014-01-31T15:38:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-31T23:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahappyhealthyhome.com\/2014\/01\/my-whole30-experience\/"},"modified":"2019-11-13T08:09:49","modified_gmt":"2019-11-13T16:09:49","slug":"my-whole30-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahappyhealthyhome.com\/2014\/01\/my-whole30-experience.html","title":{"rendered":"My Whole30 Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happy day, Whole30 is over! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\"The\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/span>
\nEarlier this month<\/a> I announced my goal to complete Whole30. Well, I made it 30 days with no processed foods, refine sugars or alcohol. I’m doing cartwheels right now! <\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nThe last few weeks have been an adjustment. Not only did I have to
\nfigure out how to make weekly meal plans work, but I had to
\nfigure out how to eat out! <\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nWhat is Whole 30<\/a>?<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Think of it as slaying your food demons one meal at a time.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nCut out all the
\npsychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory
\nfood groups for a full 30 days. Push the \u201creset\u201d button with your
\nmetabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food
\nchoices you\u2019ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you\u2019ve been
\neating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health. <\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\nEat real food. <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\nEat meat, seafood, eggs, tons of
\nvegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and
\nseeds.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nat meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty
\nof good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few
\ningredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no
\ningredients listed at all because they\u2019re totally natural and
\nunprocessed. Don\u2019t worry\u2026 these guidelines are outlined in extensive
\ndetail in our free shopping list.<\/span><\/span>
\nNo: Avoid for 30 days.<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\nMore importantly, here\u2019s what NOT to eat during the duration of your
\nWhole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you
\n regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help
\nyou discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness
\nand quality of life.<\/span><\/span>
\n – See more at: http:\/\/whole30.com\/whole30-program-rules\/#sthash.Qkl2vbHR.dpuf<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

Why did I choose<\/p>\n

\nAt the beginning of each week I created a meal plan and prepped what I could for the week on Sunday evening. This helped us to stay on track throughout the week. {Sample Meal Plan<\/a>}<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\nFood: Nothing but homemade goodness. I really relied on The Clothes Make the Girl<\/a>\/Well Fed<\/a>, Paleo Comfort Foods<\/a>, Primal Blueprint<\/a>, PaleOMG<\/a> and Primal Palate<\/a> to build weekly meal plans. Here’s just a sample of what we enjoyed over the month — Chocolate Chili<\/a>, Power Coconut Blueberry Bites<\/a>, Chicken + Grape Salad<\/a>, Paleo Pad Thai<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/span>
\nNo cheating, at all?<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nIt was tough, really tough. Before starting, I made sure made favorites weren’t hiding out in the house. Eight days in was my first work event. I really wanted a glass of wine, but stayed strong. Instead I enjoyed water with a lemon. When the food came out (prix fixe menu) I was seriously crying on the instead. Come on — lobster mashed potatoes and other “can’t eat” treats. Instead I enjoyed meat, fish and veggies. I’m sure they weren’t Whole30 approved, but I did the best I could.<\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>Fast forward, 25 days in, to the grand opening for The Landing Resort & Spa<\/span><\/span> – a swanky new boutique hotel in town. I cheated and oh it was good. Wine never tasted so good, but the next day I went right back to the Whole30 eating plan. <\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nDid I lose weight?<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nThe burning Question. No! I’m not kidding. However, my body <\/span>composition changed. I feel leaner and more energized. That doesn’t mean you wont lose weight. I’m a solid 132 lbs size 2\/4 and weighed the same on day 30 as I did on day 1. There are only two reasons I can think of. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I dropped body fat and replaced it with muscle. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. I was already eating extremely clean. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Since friends keep telling me how thin and fit I look <\/span><\/span>I’m going with a combo of the two. Thanks ladies!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
      <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      The Landing Resort & Spa<\/a> Grand Opening looking fit, fierce and sexy!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      <\/span><\/span>
      \nWhat did I learn?<\/b> <\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nIt’s not all about food. It’s in your head. You don’t need that bowl of ice cream you want it because it tastes good and make you feel good. Cutting out the sweets and wine were hard, but it made me realize I don’t need a glass of wine or three<\/strike> after work. My biggest take away was meal planning. I learned planning out meals for a week really does help  keep you on track.<\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nNow that it’s over <\/b>what am I going to do<\/b>?<\/b><\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>Moving forward my goal is to eat healthy clean whole foods, but enjoy the occasional glass of wine, night out on the town, or a bowl of ice cream. <\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nWould I recommend it? <\/b><\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nYes, I would recommend it to anyone trying to get their eating under control. The last 30 days made me think about what and how I was eating.<\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nWould I do it again?<\/b><\/span><\/span>
      \n
      <\/span><\/span>
      \nYes, I love the concept behind Whole30. This might become an annual January goal. It’s a great way to kick off the year. Next time I might read       It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways<\/a> first.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      Books I would love to add to my shelf:  <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

to do it?<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nAfter a week in Mexico and endless holiday parties I started to feel as though I had indulged just a little too much. With that being said, I was looking for something to kick start healthy eating habits. The hubs and I debated between 21-Day Sugar Detox<\/a> and Whole30, but ultimately picked Whole30 because we felt it wasn’t as restrictive – hello fruit.<\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nWhat have I been eating?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n