I Did a Whole30 and Here's What Happened
I’m a big fan of the Whole30 plan. It is a tool I use occasionally to reset and refocus my nutrition. I was feeling the itch to embark on yet another round. And why not document the process?
I’ll tell you what I’m eating, what I’m thinking, and how I’m feeling throughout the next 30 days. I hope you enjoy my journey!
Day 1: I feel so ready! I’m meal prepped and ready to take this on!
Day 2: Ok, I have a headache. A bad headache. Am I sugar detoxing already?
Compliant chicken sausage, greens, sweet potato, and a fried egg
Day 3: Yeah, I’m officially in a full on sugar detox. I’d kill someone for a donut.
Day 4: Headache has subsided. That was the fastest sugar detox I’ve ever had on a Whole30. Thank goodness it’s over!
Roast potatoes and broccoli, jalapeno-bacon turkey meatloaf muffins with Kite Hill Almond Ricotta topping
Day 5: Wait, why did I start this again? I miss cheese. I really miss cheese. Oh yeah, that’s why I started because I eat entirely too much cheese.
Day 6: Sat in traffic today for an hour and a half longer than anticipated on my way to brunch with a friend. Why didn’t I bring an emergency snack? I’m dying. Please, someone, please just end my suffering.
Some of my favorite Whole30 snacks! Dang Coconut Chips*, RX Bars*, and DNX Bars*.
Day 7: ONE WEEK DOWN BITCHES. And hey, my work pants feel a little looser than normal. Yes!
Day 8: Fasting for annual labs today. Would normally dread...today, it’s not so bad. Can’t wait for my breakfast.
Day 9: Oh lordy, I am not well. Stupid pollen is trying to kill me. Doesn’t anyone make a damn Whole30 cough drop? The answer is no. I shall suffer but not in silence. It’s just not in my nature.
At least I can still have coffee! With French Vanilla Nutpods*!
Day 10: Whole30 (for me) brunch with my sister. Don’t even care about the chocolate muffins she brought for the kiddos. Not even tempted. I am not tempted by freshly baked chocolate muffins. What is this black magic?
Day 11: Packing ALL the Whole30 snacks and heading to camp. Can’t be too prepared. Let’s do the damn thing!
Siete Cashew Flour Tortilla, avocado, a fried egg, and Cholua* hot sauce!
Day 12: Beach day! Got a little grumpy when everyone was eating cookies and I was eating dried mango. Can I give up yet? Let’s give up. This is dumb.
Day 13: I DIDN’T GIVE UP. Busy, busy day...I’m so tired.
Day 14: The girls made s’mores tonight. I ate an RxBar. I was surprisingly fine with it.
Spinach, blueberries, Applegate turkey slices, and Primal Kitchen Cilantro Lime Dressing*
Day 15: Ohhhhhh, I’m halfway there. Oh, oh. Living on a prayer. Feeling great. Like I could do this forever. Until I remember that cheese exists. Cheese is the best. But hey, I skipped AM coffee today! Who am I?
Day 16:I caught a glimpse in the mirror...dang girl! You look great. I am however exceptionally hungry today. Give me all the Chomp Sticks.
Day 17: Back to camp. Loaded up on RxBars, dried fruit, and compliant chicken sausage. Ready for some fun in the sun! Gimme a kombucha, some watermelon, and a book. I miss my cheese, though. Staying strong!
Trader Joe’s Chipotle Lime Chicken Burgers, veggies, and Barnana Plantain Chips*
Day 18: Had Chipotle. I always feel like Chipotle can’t possibly Whole30 but it can be! I was really craving pizza. And ice cream. And mac and cheese. But I resisted. Dairy is killing me this time around. Last time it was sugar. Don’t know what’s that all about. Otherwise feeling good.
Day 19: Went to spin class for the first time in over a week and felt like a freaking BEAST. Is this tiger blood taking effect? Whatever it is...I hope it keeps up!
Day 20: Took a walk with Paige and enjoyed the sunshine and (slightly) cooler weather after sweating it out the last couple of days. What can I say? Feeling good. NO COFFEE!
Egg Souffles, avocado, strawberries
Day 21: Spin was hard. I want cheese. Is this over yet? Ok...real talk...the fact that I’m still craving cheese means that cheese is a serious problem in my diet. I don’t believe in good versus bad foods but I know that cheese is a food with no brakes for me. So, it’s time to get serious about thinking about how I’m gonna re-introduce foods that trigger me to go down a bad path. A cheesy path. A path of poor choices and nachos.
Day 22: I wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep in the corner during my workout. I know I didn’t give that workout my all but for once, I’m not upset about it. I did the best I could do today. I was tired and I wasn’t into it but I finished. And that’s amazing. Starting to get nervous about the end of the Whole30. It can be scary to feel like you’re doing so well and knowing that there is this arbitrary date after which you can do whatever you want. Like that freedom seems overwhelming.
Day 23: I slept 10 hours last night. I feel so refreshed. I didn’t get a chance to work out today because I slept in late. I’m not really worried about. That’s a freeing feeling. I know taking a rest day today isn’t going to derail my entire Whole30 journey. In fact, I’ll probably be better for it for these next 7 days!
Day 24: Headed to the beach with the bestie and ALLLLLL the Whole30 approved snacks. Got stuck in traffic on the way home and snacked on a Chomp Stick. It’s amazing what a little preparation can do for you. Did a quick weight lifting sesh with Thomas when I got home.
Buffalo Chicken, Greens, Dump Ranch
Day 25: Went for a hike and didn’t hit the road on time. Going to a housewarming today but was late coming home from the hike. Cannot drink. Excuse me… Choosing not to drink. Cannot eat anything but the fruit and veggie platter. Did not prepare. Didn’t I learn my damn lesson! ALWAYS BRING SNACKS.
Day 26: Ate a leftover meatball for breakfast. What has my life come to? We are so close. I cannot wait for this to be over and yet I also I have no idea what I’m going to do when it is. . As much as I don’t want to do this anymore...I also am getting nervous about not doing the thing anymore. Does that make sense? Went to a Tone and Trim popup class at Athleta and then did another, shorter hike. Made buffalo chicken wings with dump ranch and salad for dinner. It is giving me life.
Day 27: My whole body hurts. A super active weekend...need rest and an epsom salt soak but it 90 degrees out. So, I’ll just stretch directly in front of the AC, instead.
Day 28: Holy GUACAMOLE FRIENDS. We are almost there. I’m having a teenager-esq breakout on my chin and I’m super bloated. I feel bloated. I look bloated. Not impressed.
Veggie-Potato hash, egg souffles
Day 29: I had a bit of an ah-ha moment today and realized that so much of this bloating and breakout situation is likely related to the stress I was feeling about ending the Whole30. My body is manifesting my fears. As a seasoned Whole30 alum, I can honestly say that I have never felt this way. I was always so excited to get back to cheese and chocolate and wine. This time, I don’t feel that way. I feel nervous. I feel like I’m not ready to leave the confines of the Whole30 rules. I feel scared about the fact that I’m scared to let go of this type of structured eating and what that could mean about any compulsive or restrictive tendencies I may have. I have a lot of conflicting emotions going on right now. I know that I need to walk my talk and take it easy on myself. I need to let myself feel these things and let Food Freedom come when I’m ready for it. I don’t know why it’s different this time but it is. I don’t want treats. I thought the first thing I would eat on Day 31 would be cheese. I’m not really excited about eating cheese even though I do miss it. It feels more like if I give in on Day 31 and eat cheese that I’ve somehow failed and wasted the last 30 days. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll feel differently but as of today, I don’t see myself stopping the Whole30 on day 31. I see myself continuing for now and trying to figure out how to take the training wheels off day by day.
Day 30: Anxiety is still high. Spent my night with a castor oil pack for the bloating with minimal effect. UGH. I’m not over the eating paleo thing. I over the being bloated thing. I can’t even be bothered to celebrate that it’s my last day because I feel crappy. Trying hard to release the psychosomatic component of bloat and let my body follow but really struggling. I feel so sluggish today!
Day 31: Things are much improved but I’m still a little bit on the bloated side so I decided to remain on course for now. I suddenly felt so at peace with the decision that I would break my Whole30 when the time was right and I was going to leave that time up to the universe. Maybe a friend will want to go out to eat next weekend. Maybe my co-worker will bring in homemade treats. Maybe Thomas and I will decide to hit a brewery we stumble across in our travels. I don’t know. I’m at peace with not knowing when it will end. The time will feel right. The food will feel worth it.
In the weeks leading up to my decision to start the Whole30, I was eating a lot of stuff that wasn’t nourishing my body. I was way over indulging. It caught up with me quickly and I got sick. I spent 4 days being able to stomach nothing but saltines and ginger kombucha. I knew my body needed a rest from all the junk.
This round of Whole30 has felt transformative in a way that previous rounds haven’t. I feel like I’ve had the most mindset changes in this round. I’ve had some physical changes, too. Around 11 pounds lost which is a fantastic win. But the non-scale victories have been the focus.
I have been DYING for some cheese. This morning, I could have totally had the cheese. It could have been my first reintroduction. I could have shredded pepper jack off the block to scramble with eggs or cut off a slice or two to enjoy all on their own. But this morning, it didn’t want to eat the cheese. Miracles do happen, folks!
The cheese is neither a bad nor a good food. It’s just a food that I previously had no breaks with. I didn’t feel like eating it this morning. I was happy to eat my veggie hash cooked up in coconut oil and InstaPot egg souffles.
I could have switched back to a sweetened coffee creamer but instinctively reached for the Nutpods instead.
Suddenly, the concept of Food Freedom clicked and took root in my mind. So, I am on Day 31. I don’t know when my end point will be. Food Freedom will guide me to make the right decision at the right time. It’s not about willpower. It’s about what my body knows it needs and what I know it deserves.
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Despite suffering from bloat for the past few days, I feel, overall, stronger. I’m sleeping better and feeling more well-rested in the morning.
For now, this Whole30 diary, has come to a close! If you are thinking of trying a Whole30, I say do it. It can change your body, your mindset, your habits, your life - if you’re willing to let it.
Have you ever tried a Whole30 or paleo diet? If not, would you ever? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.
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