What is Whole30?
My Whole30 journey started over donuts at church… Seriously. Every Sunday our church offers donuts to encourage fellowship in the gym after service. My good friend, Lindsay and I were chatting like usual when she mentioned her big plans for the month of January; she was taking on Whole30! Lindsay asked me if I wanted to join her. I had heard of Whole30 before, but it sounded SO extreme and I was super intimidated. I was surrounded by donuts, for goodness sake. Could I really eliminate ALL sugar from my diet for 30 days and live to see the end of the month? I would have immediately dismissed the idea. I have two small children that run me ragged. We barely make it through some days, BUT… Lindsay has THREE small children that run her ragged and she’s also barely making it through each day. There’s something incredibly inspiring about watching another woman in the same phase of life as me {the barely-keeping-our-heads-above-water phase of life}, step out in courage, outside of her comfort zone, to try something new.
I left church that day uncommitted and wishing Lindsay the best of luck, but my wheels were spinning.
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What is Whole30 anyway?
Before I even considered starting, I wanted to know exactly what the fuss was all about. It Starts With Food is a great book that outlines all the basics you need to know to begin. It’s a great reference to keep and refer back to. The Whole30 website also offers a TON of information for free.
What convinced me to take the Whole30 plunge?
1. It seemed so simple. Ridiculously simple. Eat foods with very few ingredients or even none at all. The list of what I could eat {meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and fats that included oils, nuts and seeds} was concise and I could easily wrap my brain around it.
2. The list of what I wouldn’t be able to eat for the duration of Whole30 was MUCH longer. Believe it or not, the restriction of grains, dairy, alcohol and legumes weren’t as terrifying to me as the number one restriction… NO ADDED SUGAR OF ANY KIND. No honey, no maple syrup, no agave, and no stevia. I have a love for paleo treats. In fact, paleo pancakes with dark chocolate chips, and maple syrup had become part of my breakfast routine. How did chocolate chip pancakes become part of my “healthy” breakfast routine?
3. It’s ONLY 30 days. There is a “tough love” section of the Whole30 website that says something like, “It’s NOT hard. Beating cancer is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black Is. Not. Hard.” After I read that line, I knew I was up for the challenge. I’ve been through quite a few painful experiences in my life, and while 30 days of no added sugar seemed terrifying, my track record for getting through hard and terrifying things is pretty good.
4. Lindsay was doing it. She added me to a Facebook group with all these photos of delicious looking meals! She sent me her first week Whole30 menu and the next thing I knew I was roping in friends to join us on our journey.
Who participated?
Me and 5 of my closest friends. We checked in with each other, gave recipe suggestions, and encouraged each other along the way.
If I can do it, you can do it!
If you are interested in trying Whole30, you won’t want to miss the rest of our Whole30 Journey Series. We will be here to answer questions, provide support, and encourage you along the way! Like our Facebook Page to join a community of women who are trying to be the very best version of themselves.
The products and information listed in this post are to the best of our knowledge. We share with our readers what has been successful for us in our own lives. Visit Whole30.com for full nutritional guide to ensure the products and food you consume are compliant.
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