Y’all I can’t believe this day has finally arrived.
For a while there I thought it’d never come.
And at other times, I didn’t even notice that I was in the middle of a total diet change. (Shocker, I know!)
That’s the beauty of Whole30! You may be cutting out some serious comfort foods (can we say pizza and brownies, anyone?!), but the food you do eat is so filling and flavorful, that you really don’t crave those other foods near as much as you think you would! However, before beginning this recap, I have to admit something…
I didn’t do the Whole30 to a “T”. In fact, I’d say that I ate Whole30 approved about 90% of the time.
There were a lot of rules I decided not to follow for various reasons. At times the choices I made were due to lack of availability of “approved foods”, and the others were because I didn’t want to develop any of the obsessive tendencies I noticed in various Whole30 forums. My ultimate goal of these past thirty days wasn’t to cure a disease, lose a ton of weight or discover some unknown allergy I may have.
Instead, it was to challenge myself to see if I could do it. To see if I could have enough self-control to say “no” to pizza, to focus on making healthier choices, and to think outside the box when I went out with friends. It was to test my self-control, and to see if I could be stronger than I thought I was.
I know what I did is a big “no-no” according to the creators of the plan, but I’m okay with that. I may not have “done” the Whole30, but I did MY Whole30, and I’m happy with that.
What I Learned on Whole30
I realized that saying “no” was actually empowering, rather than restrictive!
I really CAN make it 30 days without chocolate.
Saying “no” to a fresh slice of pizza didn’t ruin my night.
You will get some weird looks when you ask for no pasta at an Italian restaurant.
People will say “so… what CAN you eat?!” With a very incredulous expression.
There is sugar in practically everything.
Reading labels is annoying, but eye-opening!
Eating Whole30 isn’t near as hard as I thought it would be.
I craved all things carby, including grilled cheese sandwiches, brownies, french toast, brownies, pizza, brownies and biscuits. Oh and did I say brownies?
Sweet potatoes and eggs became my best friends!
What My Whole30 Looked Like
Something I read in the book Whole30 was that no one’s Whole30 is perfect. I feel like having a “perfect month” is practically impossible unless you stress and obsess over every little thing you put in your mouth. I know there are people who do that, and I really didn’t want to be one of them. Instead of freaking out over what may or may not be in the marinade in the fajita steak I ate, I was proud of myself for only eating the meat and veggies, and not the tortillas and beans. Instead of becoming consumed with whether or not my eggs were cooked in butter, I was happy that I chose an omelette over pancakes and biscuits. And rather than let my cravings get the best of me, I pushed through and realized that I really AM stronger than I thought I was!
My Whole30 wasn’t perfect. And I’m okay with that!
Instead, this past month was a test. A time to learn more about myself, and a chance to push my limits to see how strong my will power really was.
Yes, I had some sugar. Yes, I may have eaten some sweet potato fries. And yes, I probably did have some foods cooked in butter. But you know what? The fact that I was able to stick to it about 90% of the time amazes me! I am so stinkin’ proud of myself, and I feel AWESOME.
Don’t get me wrong… I can’t wait to enjoy my avocado egg toast in the morning. And boy am I excited for a bowl of ice cream on a hot summer’s night. But those cravings won’t consume me or get the best of me! I know now that I can eat those things in moderation, and still fully enjoy the foods I do eat. I really CAN say no, and it won’t ruin my day. And now I know what it feels like to stick to something and say “I DID IT!”
In some people’s eyes, I really didn’t do Whole30. But I did MY Whole30, and that’s all that matters.
Final Thoughts
Will I ever attempt Whole30 again? Probably so, but not right now.
For the time being, I plan on sticking to an 80/20 paleo diet, where most of the time I stick to a paleo lifestyle, but still give myself some freedom to enjoy a night on the town with my hubby, or dinner with my family. I love how I feel right now, and I can’t wait to see how the food choices I made during the Whole30 impact the way I approach food in the future.
Now it’s your turn to talk! Answer one of these questions in the comments below:
Have you ever done Whole30?
What is one food you think you could never live without?
I’ve been so intrigued by whole 30, I’ve read up on it and how to do it w being a vegetarian… but haven’t tried it. It is such a good reminder to read labels and pay attention to what we are eating! My friend once said if it is a plant, or eats a plant-yes, if it’s made in a plant -no
I find an 80/20 works best for me, too! Enjoyed reading your thoughts!
I keep wanting to try this, but I can’t seem to give up peanut butter or dairy!
i did whole30 few years ago as a challenge to see if i can do….my experience was slightly different than yours and i found it was hard to socialize and really enjoy life. i did get creative with recipes and such though.
I absolutely love this. I haven’t and probably will never do the whole 30, because to be honest, I don’t like being told what I can and can’t eat. haha. I love that you made it work for you and made it a challenge for yourself. So inspiring. Love the photos too!