I did it! I went 30 days without gluten, sugar, dairy, soy, or booze. I’m really excited that I was able to do something that sounded near impossible 30 days ago. While the whole experience was filled with ups and downs, it was overall really great and I’m definitely glad I did it.
A lot of people have been asking me questions about it, so I thought I would do a little FAQ. Feel free to post any other questions or comments you have.
Do you feel better?
Overall – yes. My clothes fit better, my energy is generally higher (minus the dips from stress), and my performance at the gym has been tremendously better. I feel and look leaner, which was a big part of why I wanted to do a Whole30. My cravings also went away – finally!! Even though it’s over, I still packed a Whole30 breakfast and lunch, and will be making a Whole30 dinner. I feel good eating these foods and they also sound good to me. Pizza and cake doesn’t sound very appealing…at least not today.
Although I’m very pleased with the physical benefits, the mental health benefits were not as profound as I had hoped. I did have a solid week where I felt like nothing could bring me down, but I also had those weeks pre-Whole30. Unfortunately, eating better did not have as strong an impact on my mental health as I had hoped, but it certainly didn’t hinder it in any way. However, because I was eating better and feeling better about my body, I was able to perform better in the gym which definitely helped my stress levels. I am still a strong believer in the correlation between healthy living and mental health.
Did you lose weight?
A little. I lost 6lbs, but I wasn’t really trying to lose weight. This will make me sound like a dick, but I also didn’t need to lose weight. Weight loss is not the goal of doing a Whole30, it’s just an added bonus. I lost 6.5 inches which is what I’m most psyched about, especially the 2 whole inches I lost from my waist. Those two inches were definitely wine, cheese, and candy.
What was the hardest part?
Going out. If I was going to go to a restaurant I had to research the menu beforehand and ask the server annoying questions, like what the food was cooked in or if I could substitute half the meal. Also, being at a bar sober is not fun. I know some people don’t mind it, but it’s not for me. My company’s biggest party of the year fell on a Thursday during the Whole30. I was not happy about that. Although I had a great time, it was really hard to walk past the whiskey tasting we set up for the after-party back at our office. The food at the party also looked amazing and walking past the donut table (yup, a whole table of just donuts) made me die a little inside.
What was the best part?
Performing better at the gym. I hit PRs (Personal Records) on multiple lifts and workouts while doing the Whole30. We did a WOD (Workout Of the Day) at the beginning of the Whole30 and repeated it at the end – 10 reps, 8 reps, 6 reps, 4 reps, and 2 reps of thrusters (with a weighted barbell) and burpees over the bar. It was unpleasant the first time and it was just an unpleasant the second time, except for one new factor – I did the workout the second time almost a full minute faster. That was an amazing feeling. I feel stronger and that is way more important to me than I number on a scale.
Another thing I really loved about doing this was learning so many new recipes. My boyfriend and I made something new about 4 times a week and almost every recipe was worth repeating. We’ll definitely build some Whole30 recipes into our dinner repertoire.
Are you going to have an epic cheat day?
Nope. After not eating gluten, dairy, or sugar for 30 days, I’m slightly horrified about what will happen if I aggressively reintroduce them to my body. There’s a Whole30 reintroduction plan that I’m going to stick to. The only twist I’m going to put on it is I’m going to allow myself to have booze in moderation. Some candy might be ok here and there as well.
Would you do it again?
Absolutely! Although I’m very dedicated to living a mostly paleo life going forward, I know there will be times where I’ll fall off the wagon. If that starts to happen too often then I know I can do another Whole30 to get back on track.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to do one?
PLAN AHEAD. I cannot emphasize that enough. Meal plan, meal prep, and always have something on hand just in case (I keep an Rx Bar in my purse). I brought my breakfast and lunch to work every day because it was too hard to have to try and find something – and I work in Manhattan.
A few other results I want to share:
- One of my pairs of jeans is now too big for me to wear, and the other pair that barely fit before now fit quite comfortably.
- I haven’t had a headache or migraine (which I get fairly often, especially when stressed) since I started the Whole30.
- I’ve had enough energy to go to the gym after work – something I haven’t had the energy do since I started my job about 8 months ago.
- I got my front squat weight into the triple digits and can deadlift more than my bodyweight.
- I haven’t had heartburn, acid reflux, or the feeling of being over-stuffed in 30 days.
- I have not had a panic attack in 30 days!!!
- My back has not spasmed in 30 days (I have chronic back pain from a high school injury).
- My recovery time from working out skyrocketed.
- I no longer feel like a slave to sugar. I finally slayed the sugar-addiction beast!
If you’re considering doing a Whole30, I strongly encourage you to do it. Don’t say you’ll try it, do it and commit to it. It’s really not that hard and you will feel so much better, I promise!
(Mental) Healthly Living 