How to Get Through Whole30

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I did it! I made it through my second round of Whole30! Before you’re too impressed, these round are almost a year apart, and believe me, they shouldn’t have been. Truth is, I love the way I feel when I’m being really dedicated to my health. I kind of feel like a bad ass when I’m going to the gym regularly, making whole, healthy foods, and treating myself like a fitness model. Truth also is, I love a glass of wine, or two, carbs and sweets. Oh those carbs and sweets. So, I do what wine loving, non-fitness models do, try to balance it out. Sometimes though, the scales get a little tipped in the wrong way. Especially, after the holidays, the intake of chocolate and one more glass of champagne skyrockets and the mornings of power green smoothies plummet.

Which, is why I love Whole 30. It’s a hard reset that gets me completely back on track. And, as a bonus, I lose the pounds I put on with those extra slices of Christmas cake. And, when my eating is in line, I also can get myself back on the workout train as well. Which is needed. If you’re like, what is this Whole30 you speak of? Buy the book, give it a go, and we can chat all about it in 30 days!

So, how do you get through a round of Whole30?

Prepare

I have a pretty solid routine down in the mornings that includes time to cook up a healthy breakfast. Lunch, is usually leftovers from the night before. Snacks are easy, either a piece of fruit, some veggies or nuts. For me, when I fall down is dinner. I may have worked late, if it’s a gym day I am getting home in the dark, cold, tired, worn out, and hungry. That is a recipe for 1-800-BRING-ME-PIZZA. And, this is why I have to be prepared. What that means for me, is on the weekends, I meal plan, grocery shop, and do any prep for the week to make my life easier. I might still be tempted to order delivery, but when I know I have veggies prepped, meat defrosted, and a marinade already made, it’s much easier to stay on track.

Have a Friend

When I did my first Whole30, I did it alone, but, the handsome hunk was very supportive and ate a lot of Whole30 meals with me. This time around, he’s did it with me! And, met his weight goal! It’s key to have a support system. Tell people you’re committing to this and let them support you. That way your friend can understand why when they invite you out for drinks you’re ordering an unsweetened ice tea. Or, you’re able to text your mom from the bathroom at work when a cake is brought in. And, it’s nice to have a supportive partner at home who will try out new, exciting, and sometimes strange recipes with you. Which brings me to…

Make it Fun

Life is too short not to have fun, so make it fun! Enjoy the challenge, try totally new things outside of your taste comfort zone and try new cooking techniques. You might say, nope jackfruit lettuce wrap tacos are not for me, but you might also find great meals to throw into your regular rotation! These Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes are seriously out of this world good! This is the perfect time to make these discoveries! If you want this to help start your new way of healthy living, it’s got to be fun. People avoid things that are hard and unpleasant, so make it a good experience! I highly recommend the new Whole30 cookbook that just came out! It has lots of really great recipes from tons of different bloggers.

Don’t Stress Too Much

You’re already having no sugar, no grains, no alcohol, no dairy and no legumes for 30 days, don’t go overboard making yourself miserable. When I did my last Whole 30 for the first couple weeks on top of all those no’s, I also was trying to eat very little fat, eggs, potatoes, and only super lean meat. It made things difficult and I was a little cranky. I was still stuck in the mindset that all fat is bad, and I was a little freaked out at my macros. When I let up, allowed myself to enjoy healthy fats, like nuts and avocado, and ate something other than boneless skinless chicken breast, I was a lot happier enjoyed the second half of the month much more. Plus, I still lost the weight, I felt energized and was just an all around better person to be around.

It’s Only 30 Days

When all else fails, just remember, it’s only 30 days. You can do anything for 30 days. Well, maybe not, not breathing, that would last more like 3 minutes. But really, this is eating healthy for 30 days. When you look at it like that, it’s silly not to be able to do it! You’ve got this!

 

Have you tried Whole30? What were your thoughts?