Whole30- You asked, I answered

Q: What made you decide to do the Whole30?
A: I have been searching for a program that would gently and effectively help to identify food habits and sensitivities for the clients that I work with. I would never ask a client to try something that I had not tried myself- and decided that the best way to understand how the Whole30 works would be to do it myself! So, I purchased the book and read it cover to cover. I fell in love with the message, process and accessibility of the program. Dallas and Melissa Hartwig have done an incredible job writing this book and creating a program that is both easy to follow, fun and loaded with built-in support along the way.

Q: What were the biggest differences between the “normal” way you eat and eating to follow Whole30?
A: Before starting on the Whole30 we ate a lot of grains and beans for our meals. I love quinoa and black beans- they are great for our family since my primary (non-plant based) protein sources are eggs and wild fish.

Our normal weeknight meals would be mostly vegetarian with fish about 2 times each week. Being on the Whole30 you don’t eat grains or legumes (or sugar, dairy and alcohol)- and I have to tell you the owner of our local fish store and I became great friends at the end of my 30 days! My consumption of pasture raised eggs was also increased-I fell in love with eggs- and never tired of them. Now that I am done with the Whole30 I still find myself making eggs for breakfast almost every day!

Q: What was the hardest of the Whole30?
A: I would have to say that the hardest part about the Whole30 was all the prep and planning. It would be pretty hard to do this for 30 days if you didn’t plan your meals in advance.

Having the right Whole30 approved food on hand makes all the difference! I would sit down on Sunday and map out each breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the next week. While it took time and effort- it made the 30 days so much easier.

Q: Did you do the Whole30 by yourself or with other people?
A: I did the Whole30 during the day by myself- but Michael adhered to certain aspects with me when he was home. He would eat anything I made for dinner- but during the day would have work lunch meetings and take his normal Greek yogurt for breakfast. He also did not drink alcohol Sunday-Thursday but did enjoy his favorite IPAs on Friday and Saturday night.

Having him commit to the nights was a massive support- and he is the grill master! Anytime we had something grilled on our menu he made sure it turned out perfect!

I found great support on the Whole30 message boards- there was a thread started for people that had a Day 1 start on September 28. It was wonderful to connect with others that were going through this at the same time as me. We had the similar struggles, learned from each other and celebrated each day that we completed. The support and friendships were incredible. I would recommend these message boards to anyone that wants to embark on the Whole30. You can never have too much support!

Q: What would you eat for breakfast on a busy morning when you don’t have time to “cook”?
A: This is when that planning ahead really came in handy 😉 If I had a morning where I just knew I couldn’t cook I would make a Frittata in advance. They last and taste just as delicious for days and reheat in about 2 minutes. If you cut them in a triangle you could literally wrap it up in some parchment and eat it like a slice of pizza on the go!

There were also mornings that I ate Almond Butter (just make sure that your almond butter is sugar free!) and a large Honeycrisp apple for breakfast- but on those days I made sure to eat my lunch early so I didn’t get too hungry.

Q: What was the best part about the Whole30?
A: This is a great question- and so hard to answer since there are so many aspects. Short version- I have never felt as good, light, energetic, clear-minded and happy in my life. Eating all the natural foods and wild fish helped me feel so connected to each and every meal. I loved that I never ate from a package- it all came from the earth! I slept better in the past 30 days that before I had kids- which BLOWS my mind!!

Q: What did you notice about the way you looked and felt while you were on the Whole30?
A: Physically I noticed that my stomach was never bloated or distended, my skin was incredibly clear and my nails grew so long.

I love to exercise and was curious how this new way of eating and nourishing myself would impact my runs, yoga and strength training and was pleased that it made them all easier. I felt strong, quick and very centered during yoga.

During the 30 days I became a more patient parent- my moods felt very steady and even. My feathers didn’t ruffle easily and I felt so happy!

One of the most interesting aspects of the Whole30 that I touched on briefly on IG is that I assumed that I had seasonal allergies- waking up each morning prior to the Whole30 with lots of congestion. On day 3 I woke up and my nose was totally clear and it remained that way the remainder of this journey. I couldn’t believe that I had food sensitivities that caused congestion and never even suspected it!

I am not a big fan of the scale- but did follow the book and weigh on day 1 and day 31 and in the end lost 3 pounds. I was shocked when I saw that since I ate so many high quality fats over the 30 days- while weight loss wasn’t a “goal” for me it was an effect of the program.

Q: Who would you recommend the Whole30 to and why?
A: I would recommend this to each and every person that I know. The 30 days on this program teach you so much about yourself and your body. I do think that people become accustomed to their routine and habits and this Whole30 journey shakes that all up! You become mindful of your eating, aware of how great your body & self can feel- and truly create what the book calls “food freedom”

While this diet is great for everyone- there is a special chapter that outlines Medical Conditions (Autoimmune, IBS/IBD, Gallbladder, Eating Disorders), Pregnancy and Breastfeeding, Kids, and Vegetarians and Vegan. There you can find specific information to help guide you along the Whole30 journey safely and successfully.

Q: Will you keep eating the way you did on the Whole30 after the 30 days?
A: I have gotten asked this a lot since I have finished up the Whole30. I will say that I didn’t miss sugar or wine at all. Those are two things that I plan on enjoying minimally.

I do plan to add in grains and legumes as they are pretty important pillars in our diet- but not as often as I had been. I loved eating vegetables, fruits and fish on a regular basis. I missed casseroles a whole lot! As a busy mom casseroles are a staple in our house and for 30 days we didn’t have one- so I am looking forward to adding some cleaned up casseroles back into our routine.

And dairy… that’s an interesting one. While I didn’t “miss it” I do love a good Greek yogurt based Kale Caesar, a sprinkle of Goat’s cheese on a salad and some fresh parmesan on my shrimp scampi. Again, that is something that will be added back in on a minimal basis.

Overall, the 30 days were some of the best ever! Feeling as good as I felt, eating the way that we did and experiencing the benefits were a great lesson for me. I can’t wait to encourage friends, family and clients to try the Whole30. Because, really, you can do ANYTHING for 30 days!

If you are interested in the Whole30 or want to get started but need some additional help send me an email at bbwellness@outlook.com. I would LOVE to help you along the way!