This post is about the hardest diet I have ever attempted and one of the most rewarding! To be fair, I have never even tried a diet like this before. And it's absolutely necessary to say that many baby steps were taken before trying this diet.
Here's what it's all about: the Whole30 diet only permits eating certain foods like: meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, and eggs. The purpose is to cut out generally unhealthy, processed, or foods that cause stomach inflamation. In our case, we decided to replace all sugar with natural honey, and after 15 days we re-integrated certain foods like cheese, milk, corn, and beans but stayed away from sugar, bread, noodles, and rice. Getting rid of these foods even just for 30 days can really change your body. In case you're curious how much weight we actually lost- the pictures might help explain that:
Our Results:
In my before pictures I´m wearing blue shorts.
In Byron's before pictures he's wearing brown pants.
What we learned by experience:
1. Mutual Support is absolutely Necessary
Byron (my wonderful husband) and I decided to do this diet together. One week he really wanted to quit and I encouraged him to keep going. The next week we switched roles. Without Byron I could not have finished this diet for 30 days. Doing it together is the best thing we could have done!2. Sugar Isn't a Necessity
I have a huge sugar tooth and I like all things sweet, so this was the biggest challenge for me on this diet. There were some days I had crazy cravings, but by the end of the diet I realized that sugar really isn't necessary for things to taste sweet. Using honey or molasses is much better for you than white sugar. And now just some fruit is all I need to give me a little sugar boost!3. Stress Affects Cravings Big Time!
About half-way through the diet challenge, I was feeling pretty good about the control I had over my cravings, until something stressful happened at work. All of a sudden I could not stop thinking about one my favorite things to eat here in Loja- Empanadas y Morocho. Then the corner store nearby work has all kinds of chocolate bars and I simply wanted to eat All-The-Sweet-Things! Before running to the corner store, I started to read up on it, and I realized how the cravings were all related to stress. I think a big component of avoiding food temptations during stressful times is to remember that eating sweets won't help the situation, it could even make it worse. See next point:
4. What You Eat Affects Your Mood
Food with a lot of sugar or even foods with a lot carbohydrates that spike blood sugar affect us greatly. We feel this burst of energy, but the problem is that it's short lived. Those levels drop rapidly afterwards. During these 30 days, whenever it had been a while and I hadn't eaten something sweet I could feel myself get upset quickly when the trigger was actually something small that I would not normally care about. Bottom line...blood sugar can turn you into a monster. I have decided to seek a balance so that my blood sugar doesn't affect me that way. So eating less carbohydrates/sugars and more vegetables is a good way to achieve that.5. Vegetables Require Creativity
Because all vegetables are allowed on the Whole30 diet (and because we needed to make sure we were still eating an adequate amount of calories per day) we really had to get creative to include more vegetables in each meal. For lunch and dinner we really tried to include at least 2 vegetable assortments on our plates. Thank God for pinterest and youtube which showed us that there are so many ways to eat vegetables and not just in salads! Zuchini noodles, cauliflower rice, and asparagus are now staples in our diet!
6. Eating Well Changes Your Standards
Before starting this diet, Byron and I would often desire to eat fast foods. Which restaurant we ate at was open to anything! However, because of this diet's restrictions going out to eat was much more difficult. By the end of the 30 days, fried and greasy foods no longer appealed to us. We wanted nutrient rich foods. We wanted meals with vegetables included! Our standards changed!
7. More Energy, Better Exercise, and Great Sleep
One of the biggest perks of the Whole30 diet is the energy you feel throughout the day. I felt more focused at work with less grogginess in the morning and late afternoons especially. Because you have less blood sugar lows, the stability gives you consistent energy which is amazing! Due to that constant energy level, we both felt amazing while exercising too! Additionally, this diet especially affected Byron's ability to sleep well. Before, he used to wake up at the slightest noise or movement. Now, after eating well he sleeps like a rock just like me!
8. Dairy is NOT my friend
This point is much more personal. One of the biggest reasons Byron and I chose to do this diet specifically is because of how it cuts out foods that commonly cause stomach inflamation. At the end of the diet, when introducing those foods again, you monitor how you react to them in your body. We decided to introduce dairy again after 15 days and is is definitely not a friend to my body. My stomach swells up and genuinely hurts when I have milk. This is my sad reality and proves that the diet does expose you to what could be causing stomach inflamation. I'm glad that we found my main source of stomach problems. So from now on my dairy intake will be minimal and unsweetened almond milk is my go-to milk substitute.
9. Oh the Recipes!
If you are considering doing this diet, I have two last points written just for you. Do NOT attempt this diet if you do not like cooking. Byron and I were constantly searching for recipes and new ways to cook the same things. Luckily for us, we enjoy finding success with new recipes. Byron and his family have taught me about how fun it can be! Plus eating out is almost impossible because even the types of oils that are used for cooking are considered important for the diet. (Only olive oil is acceptable.) Now we have some favorites like Byron's mushroom and chicken sauce, or my breakfast egg casserole, that we will continue to cook on a regular basis!
10. Value for Money
This diet is NOT cheap. For us in Ecuador where fresh produce is readily available for very inexpensive prices, we only spent about $25 more dollars a week on things like milk substitutes, larger quantities of meat, and fancier restaurants that charge more for their good quality foods. I'm sorry to say it, but in the US, this diet would not be possible for our budget. Finding whole organic foods that are all natural just cost too much in the US which I find extremely sad. I hope that as people become more aware of this problem, things will change.
So there you have it! Those are the details that some of you have wanted to know about our diet. Thanks for your support and encouragement as we continue to look for ways to be healthier people!
