Whole30 is a health program that has many people buzzing. I tried it for the first time and it has been a mind-blowing experience! I found that certain foods that I once loved no longer agree with me, and I wanted to try the elimination process to pinpoint exactly what was causing my discomforts. For total transparency, I did consult with a doctor who diagnosed me with severe acid reflux and was educated on certain foods and beverages that trigger the symptoms. But if you need to know a bit more about what Whole30 entails, I’ve got you covered.
What is Whole30?
According to Whole30: “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 fertility issues—that medication hasn’t helped? These symptoms may be directly related to the foods you eat—even the ‘healthy’ stuff. So, how do you know if and how these foods are affecting you?”
The Site goes on to say, “Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the physically unhealthy, psychologically altering, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory food groups for a full 30 days. Let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be causing.”
FOODS TO EAT ON WHOLE30
Essentially, you can eat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. Participants are encouraged to eat foods with very few ingredients that are natural, unprocessed ingredients you can pronounce.
FOODS TO AVOID ON WHOLE30
Whole30 “no-no” foods and beverages are carefully listed on the program’s website here.
One last and final rule: You are not allowed to step on the scale or take any body measurements for the duration of the program.
Whew! This is some heavy stuff!
These are all of the emotions I experienced while on the program:
Days 1-3: The ‘Hangry’ Phase
Days 4-7: The Withdrawal Phase
Days 8-11: The Flashback Phase
Days 12-15: The “No-Turning-Back” Phase
Days 16-17: The Backsliding Phase
Ok, ok. I didn’t make it through the entire program, but I am proud and surprised that I made it that far. The first week and a half was the most difficult. People kept telling me I would forget about all the ‘junk’ after the first few days, but NOPE. I thought about it the entire time. On the positive side, I did lose a few inches and overall felt so much better physically. My biggest downfall was a lack of preparation and not restocking on all the acceptable foods. So yes, I got lazy at the end of the program. But I’m hoping to give it another shot soon. They say it takes 21 days to break a habit, so we shall see.
Have you tried Whole30 or a similar regimen? What was your experience?
