The Whole30

Before I talk Whole30, here’s a little update of the last few days. I’ve been kinda busy.

I had an awesome day spent with a friend on Thursday….doing a lot of relaxing and enjoying this view.

 

I had a full day on Friday that included working at the food truck, then watching the Royals game with a few friends at a sports bar.

Saturday morning I participated in the Mustache Dash 5K with my friend, Rebecca!

 

We had a great time. She finished in 29:03, while I came in a little later at 40:01. Not bad for a girl that really does not like to run. 

 

After running the 5K, I spent five hours on Saturday afternoon working on this seating area project in the front yard that I’m regretting starting, but determined to finish. I’m still not finished, but it’s making progress. Move mulch, place stones in dirt, moving mulch back….repeat…..repeat…..repeat.

 

Saturday night was date night at a comedy club with some friends and this handsome fella.

 

Then……I spent all day yesterday reading up on, and planning to start the WHOLE30 today!

Have you heard of The WHOLE30?

“Think of the Whole30 like pushing the “reset” button with your health, your habits, and your relationship with food.”

The Whole30

“For 30 days, the program eliminates foods demonstrated by science and our experience to promote unhealthy cravings and habits., disrupt your metabolism, damage your digestive tract, and burden your immune system. After 30 days, you carefully and systematically reintroduce those foods, and pay attention to how they impact your cravings, mood, energy, sleep, digestion, body imposition, athletic performance, pain and the symptoms of your medical condition. With that knowledge, you can then create the perfect diet for you, a nutrition plan that feels balanced and sustainable, grounded in new healthy habits, keeping you looking, feeling, and living your best.”

The Whole30

In a nutshell, (It’s a big book, this is seriously just a tiny nutshell) The WHOLE30 allows you to eat meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, eggs, raw unsalted nuts (no peanuts), and healthy oils.

Some of the foods that are NOT WHOLE30 are dairy, alcohol, grains (even no quinoa), sugar, any sugar substitutes, legumes and honey.

I’ve given you a very small list of what the “Yes” and “No” foods are, but hopefully you get the idea. 

There is no measuring or weighing your food. There is no calorie or fat counting. You just eat whole foods.

I’ve been thinking about doing The WHOLE30 for several reasons.

I’ve wanted to get back into the 160’s, and eventually back to my goal weight of 160, and I knew that doing that would mean eliminating alcohol from my diet for a while. That’s just easier for me to do when I have a plan to follow.

My husband said that he is ready to make some drastic changes with his breakfast and lunch choices, so the timing for doing this is perfect. He is 100% on board to do this with me!

The social calendar is pretty empty for the next 30 days, so the timing is perfect.

I’ve had a hard time coming up with meal ideas lately, and now I have an entire new book full of recipes to pick from!

The most difficult part of this plan for me will be coming up with a variety of breakfast ideas. No yogurt, no oatmeal, no pancakes. My first thought is…..that’s a lot of egg eating. After reading the book, I realize that I need to think outside of the box when it comes to breakfast. Leftovers from dinner the night before may now become my new breakfast, topped with an egg….or maybe not.

Since fruits and raw nuts are allowed, I will still be able to enjoy my banana and my Trader Joe’s Almond Butter, but I need to limit how often I chose to eat that.

While doing The WHOLE30, the plan advises weighing yourself and taking measurements on day 1, then again on day 30, and not at all during the 30 days.

I’m not going to count Weight Watcher points while doing this. I am going to focus on portions and variety, and very little snacking.

It is my hope that over the next 30 days that I will learn to snack less, and that eating an even more balanced diet than I do now (eliminating alcohol for now), I will have less cravings and shed a few pounds.

I’m not planning to lose 12 pounds in 30 days, but it would be nice to get back closer to this.

This is me towards the end of 2013 at 157 pounds. Size 8 Levi’s.

 

My face at 157 pounds.

 

This is me now, at 172 pounds. Size 12 jeans. I feel great, but I can see those 12 pounds in my face.

 

As always, I’ll post everything that I am eating and what exercise I am doing for the day. It’s going to be an interesting 30 days!

If any of you have done, or tried The WHOLE30, I would love to hear from you!

 

This is What I Will Accomplish in 2015

I will choose one occasion per month for Social Drinking (um..this is a work in progress)

I will go no more than two days in a row without exercise. (I’ve done “two a day’s” to make up)

I will track every single day of the entire year. (I’ve only NOT tracked a few weekends this year.)

I will not count points or track while doing The WHOLE30

I will run in a minimum of six 5K’s. Four down, two to go!

 

 

“love the life you live, live the life you love”