My Whole 30 Journey
If you don’t know anything about the Whole30, start here.
So, now that you know just what I got myself into, you’re thinking, “Why the heck would anyone want to do that?” Good Question. Multiple times throughout the last 30 days I have found myself thinking the exact same thing. I’ve also been thinking that the tagline for the Whole 30 should read: For the completely insane people who want to starve themselves of all food that is good for exactly 30 days and look like a sociopath at all restaurants.
Since we’re on the same page, the real reason I wanted to do this (and force my unwilling husband into this adventure also) is because I have a lot of stomachaches- so many that they were interrupting life and sleep and everything in between. Also I am an extremely picky eater and I thought it might force me to eat more vegetables (Spoiler: I still don’t like many green foods).
Overall, the Whole30 was a good experience and I would probably do it again.
Then again, maybe I am only saying that because it’s finally over. Because I’m now looking back over my Whole30 Log and here are some of the entries, just to give you an idea:
I feel WEIRD. Had a dream about eating a chocolate chip cookie. Literally- that was my entire dream. Me eating a cookie.
I am so thirsty. All. The. Time.
Today I saw a commercial about cheese. I teared up a bit.
Already planning my first meal on Day 31.
Feeling so much better. I have energy throughout the whole day. Awesome.
SO.TIRED.OF.COOKING.
Dear Lord, Thank you for salt. Thank you for calling us to be the salt of the earth. And yes, I too would throw it out and trample it if it lost its taste. Amen.
My dog ate my Larabar and I almost snapped.
Sleeping like a rock- from the time my head hits the pillow to the time I wake up. Except I wake up thinking about how I can’t have any chocolate today and I still have to drink my coffee black.
We took communion at church today. Does that count as cheating?
I got a coupon in the mail for free cheesy bread from Donato’s. *Rolls eyes*
The last few days have been extremely normal. I suppose I am getting used to a life void of cheese and sugar and creamer and chocolate. Makes me kind of feel sorry for me.
So I know what you’re thinking. Now that you see a glimpse into my experience with the Whole30, you’re like “Where do I sign up?”
Right.
Here’s the truth about my experience with the Whole30: It was hard, but worth it. My stomach only hurt once at the beginning of the detox process and I had a migraine from not drinking enough water, but the rest of the time was purely a mental battle against the foods I craved. To be honest, I doubted myself a little at the beginning of the journey; I doubted that I could really commit to the cleanse for the entirety of the process and not cheat even once. Now that it’s completed, I am so satisfied not necessarily in the results—but in the commitment of the journey.
And maybe that’s what it was about for me the whole time.
Either way, the Whole30 has taught me a lot. I have learned to appreciate the process of preparing meals from scratch (and patience it takes to clean the never-ending pile of dirty dishes). I have learned that sugar is in almost everything, I love sweet potatoes with rosemary, and ghee tastes a lot like butter. I learned that people will look at you with crazy eyes when you tell them you are on the Whole30, and they will most likely think you are on a diet despite what you tell them. I have learned more than ever that the food you put into your body has a direct correlation with how you feel. I have learned that it doesn’t have to be expensive to eat healthy, and there are some restaurants committed to preparing healthy foods (Chipotle wins again).
I have learned that when you say I could never do that, you are wrong.
So when people ask me if I would recommend the Whole30, my answer is absolutely. Especially if you have food allergies or insomnia or you are addicted to soda. Especially if you have regular stomachaches or reflux or you love sweets more than anything in the world. Especially if you think that you could never do it. Because you might just surprise yourself.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
If you have questions or recommendations or want to exchange info about your own experience, I would love to chat. Also I am leaving some of my favorite foods/drinks/seasonings we used during the Whole30 below:
- Sweet Potato Wedges- with coconut oil + rosemary
- Smoked Ribs- rubbed with mustard + butt rub
- Strawberry and Banana Smoothie- with unsweetended coconut/almond milk
- Trader Joe's Plantain Chips- with homemade salsa
- Stuffed Baked Potato- with ground beef, ghee, + Tessemae's Ranch
- Sausage and Egg Casserole- with chicken sausage (found at Whole Foods)
- Smoked Chicken Wings- with Frank's buffalo sauce
- Strawberry + Watermelon Lemonade