Hi y’all! It’s been a while! I took some time off to spend holidays with family, and to be honest I was also feeling a little burnt out and uninspired. Sometimes stepping away is the best thing to do to allow yourself to be refreshed and come back strong. Most of all, blogging is supposed to be fun! It’s work, sure, but I also LOVE doing it.
Starting today January 1st, Andrew and I are tackling the Whole30 challenge together! Yikes. I’m excited to share about our journey as well as bring y’all some new recipes!
Those who know me well know that I’m a healthy eater and work out 5-6 days a week. So the question has to be asked- “Um..why are you doing a Whole30?” I put together this post to address why I’m doing the challenge and what I hope to learn from it.
What is Whole30?
First, a short intro. Whole30 is a 30 day food and lifestyle challenge designed to, “change the way you eat for the rest of your life” (quoted from the website).
What you can have: “…moderate portions of meat, seafood, and eggs; lots of vegetables; some fruit; plenty of natural fats; and herbs, spices, and seasonings. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re whole and unprocessed.” (Sounds good to me!)
What you can’t have: Added sugars, grains, alcohol, legumes, dairy, carreeganan (a thickening agent), MSG (an artificial flavor enhancer), sulfites (food preservers or enhancers), baked goods, junk food, or treats with “approved” ingredients.
Gulp.
I know what you’re thinking. Why in the world would ANYONE do that.
Melissa Hartwig, creator of Whole30 says it best:
Certain food groups (like sugar, grains, dairy and legumes) could be having a negative impact on your health and fitness without you even realizing it. Are your energy levels inconsistent or non-existent? Do you have aches and pains that can’t be explained by over-use or injury? Are you having a hard time losing weight no matter how hard you try? Do you have some sort of condition, like skin issues, digestive ailments, seasonal allergies, or chronic pain, that medication hasn’t helped? These symptoms are often directly related to the foods you eat—even the “healthy” stuff. So how do you know if (and how) these foods are affecting you?
Strip them from your diet completely. Eliminate the most common craving-inducing, blood sugar disrupting, gut-damaging, inflammatory food groups for a full 30 days. Let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be causing. Push the reset button with your health, habits, and relationship with food, and the downstream physical and psychological effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day-to-day life, long term health, body composition, and feelings around food.
Too much to read? Ok, check it: Low energy levels, aches and pains, inability to lose weight, skin issues, digestive ailments, seasonal allergies, chronic pain, and so many other conditions could be directly linked to your diet without you knowing it. Eat nothing but the good stuff for 30 whole days, without cheating, and you learn how the foods are affecting you.
It’s the ultimate science experiment on yourself, to be honest. And I’m a big science nerd 🤓
Why I’m Doing Whole30
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. I’m blessed to not suffer from inexplicable aches and pains, digestive ailments, chronic pain, weight issues, or things of that nature. So why am I, Jess, lover of running, kale, quinoa, and lifting, doing a Whole30?
I’m so glad you asked.
- It’s time for me to break up with snacks. Whole30 focuses on three well balanced meals, and pre- and post- workout mini meals if needed. It discourages snacking and instead encourages you to eat as much as you need for those three main meals. Snacks and I are in a committed, exclusive relationship. I haven’t missed a morning or afternoon snack in probably over 200 days. I’m not kidding. Missing my morning or afternoon snack = immediate hanger and energy crash. Have you seen that quote that says, “I’m sorry for what I said when I was hangry?” Yep, that’s me. Sorry, husband.
- Adios, sweet tooth. I’m going to get real with y’all here. Desserts are my biggest weakness. And I don’t mean I cut myself an extra large slice of cake. I mean, after dinner I’ll have three cookies, a brownie and a piece of dark chocolate if it’s available to me. I have a separate stomach just for post-dinner sweets (Doesn’t everybody?). Sugar’s got a hold on me and it’s holding on good. By kicking sugar to the curb for 30 days, I hope to re-wire my brain to listen to hunger and fullness cues and allow hormones like leptin and glucagon to become regulated again. (Yep, sugar really does alter the chemical pathways to your brain that house feelings of reward and satisfaction! Crazy, right?)
- Improved athletic performance. This one is for fun. Improved athletic performance is touted as one of the side effects of Whole30. I’m taking pre-challenge measurements of a variety of fitness tests, including 5K run time, push ups, jump squats, etc., and will take them again after the 30 days are up.
- I like a challenge. It’s plain and simple- I love a good challenge. Cut out the bad stuff, only eat the good stuff, and observe the positive changes. Count me in.
Whole30 Resources
Since I’m a big nerd, I read It Starts With Food, which explains the science behind why certain foods aren’t allowed during the challenge. It’s not necessary to read it before starting the challenge, but I love learning about the research and evidence based practice that back the rules of Whole30. I always want to educate myself (and ask questions!) about why I’m doing something.
I’m also excited about this Whole30 Day by Day book that breaks down what you might be feeling each day as well as provides space for journaling your thoughts. Journaling daily speaks to my Type A personality, so I’m really looking forward to this book.
Instagrams/Blogs/Cookbooks I’m excited to cook from:
- PaleoBailey – Hilarious personality and recipes that will be husband approved! I’ve already made these Spaghetti Squash Pizza Boats and loved them.
- Just Jessie B – All of her recipes are SO simple. And I finally caved and ordered NutPods creamer (whole30 approved) after watching her coffee tutorial!
- Lastly, @whole30recipes on Instagram features a different blogger each week who shares Whole30 recipes! That’s how I found Bailey and Jessie’s blogs. It’s a great way to keep getting new ideas throughout the challenge.
- Whole30 also has two cookbooks written for the program: Whole30 Fast & Easy (I’ve heard so many good things about this one!) and the original Whole30 Cookbook.
I’m so excited to pick back up on the blog and share things like:
- Weekly Whole30 updates
- Recipes I’m loving during the challenge (and new recipes from my kitchen!)
- What it’s like to do a Whole30 with your significant other
- Results from my athletic performance experiment
- My thoughts on the Whole30 once we finish!
Are you doing a Whole30 in 2018?! We’re in this together, y’all!
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