On The Whole30

As Americans, we have a very unhealthy relationship with food. It starts in early childhood when we are given food “rewards” for good behavior. Then in our teen years we let the TV tell us what to eat. If we eat or drink their “food” we will be popular, loved, and our life will be an exciting adventure.  Our family years bring the idea of “comfort” food, which likens us back to the food as reward we learned as children. If we’ve had a bad day, ice cream, pizza, cookies, or whatever other food we see as comfort awaits to ease our pain.

We are so brainwashed about “food” that we believe the lie that it is too much trouble to cook our own meals. Pre-packaged food is the ideal. If we can pull it out of the fridge or freezer and be eating in less than five minutes we have reached the pinnacle. Grab and go has fueled a multi-billion dollar fast food industry…and it’s growing.  Soda has gone from an occasional treat to something we are quite addicted to. We guzzle it down like water. Another multi-billion dollar and growing industry. 

When I was in the fifth grade I remember going through the lunch line and seeing a poster of several children in a park. They were drawn in outline and filled with all sorts of good, nutritious food and the caption was “You Are What You Eat”. I remember staring at the poster and then said to my friend behind me, “If we are what we eat, I’m a peanut butter sandwich.”

And it’s true…we are in fact what we eat. A fact that should horrify us with all the chemicals, pseudo food, dyes, fillers, preservatives, sodium and sugar that is in our food. These things are added to addict us...to keep us buying what they are selling. But, we are happy in the lies that are being fed to us on a regular basis. McDonald’s still reigns even though the amount of actual food in their food is minuscule. 

I had heard of the Whole30 about six years ago when I started seeing it pop up on Facebook. Some of my friends were doing it and I gave them hearty cheers, but, I was too busy at the time to even try to ponder what it was about.

Then, last year, my friend Lori walked in to church one day looking like a million bucks. She always looked great but I knew, like myself, she was struggling with the joys of being ‘our age’. The inexplicable weight gain; the stiffness; the dull skin. She seemed to be glowing and I asked how she had achieved this transformation. She explained the Whole30 to me and since I was stuck in the daily struggle of pain, the idea that I could eat to reduce inflammation was like a light-bulb over my head.

So, in a nutshell, the Whole30 is the idea that we truly, truly, are what we eat. By eating whole foods and by eliminating certain foods that are known to cause inflammation, depression, disease, etc., we can change our relationship with food; change how our body uses food; and in essence, change ourselves. You do it for 30 days and then slowly reintroduce the eliminated foods to see how your body reacts. By doing this you will discover what foods cause that dreaded inflammation or depression or joint pain. You discover your body and how it functions and processes the food you feed it. Brilliant.

Now, it was daunting to me at first. I focused on what I couldn’t have…no dairy? Are you kidding? How the heck would I drink my morning coffee without half and half? No sugar? How would I get over that chocolate craving that seemed to strike after every meal? And isn’t dark chocolate good for you? No grains? What about my toast and morning cereal?

Lori encouraged me to go buy “It Starts with Food”* and the “Whole30”* as both would explain the whys and hows of the program. So, my initial conversation with her was in October and I went and bought the books in April…that’s how long it took me to get my brain ready. And I think that is key.

My reason for attempting it was simple. I could no longer deal with the daily pain of my back. I knew that this eating plan was not going to heal my twisted spine, but if it could reduce the inflammation in my body, I knew my pain would lessen. That, in and of itself, was reason enough for me to try it.

In preparation, I did read the books. I cleared my kitchen of anything that wasn’t Whole30 approved. I bought food and outlined what recipes I was going to use for the first week. Their Whole30 cookbook is packed full of great recipes so getting stuck for ideas on what to eat wasn't going to be a problem. I read their ‘what to expect’ so I would know just that, another key issue for me, and on the planned day, I began.

Now, for time’s sake I won’t give you a daily or weekly blow by blow of how I did on the plan. I will say that I followed it to a T. I read labels. I kept going when I had severe tummy troubles. I was not going to be dissuaded. By week two, I had no cravings, didn’t miss any of the eliminated foods, and felt no pain in my back or joints.

I did do one cheat…in week two I stepped on the scale. One of the rules is that, since this is not a diet, you are to banish the scale. But, my clothes were looser, my face looked thinner, and I. Had. To. Know. So, I hopped on the scale and was thrilled to see a 4lb drop.

But, I was more thrilled by the fact that I had no back pain. I had no headaches. My joints were fluid and flexible. I had energy. Someone mentioned that I was glowing. Yeah, baby!

The remaining two weeks went by quickly. I had gotten into a routine of choosing recipes, prepping, cooking, and always being ready. I noticed that since I was eating healthy, whole foods, when my body had burned off what I had fed it, I was hungry. Like stomach growling hungry. Knowing I was giving my body the fuel and energy it needed and it would actually tell me when it needed more was kind of awe inspiring. God knew what He was doing when He created these bodies we live in. And, I was (finally) in control of food, not the other way around.

In the last few days my biggest test came. The Ireland Mission team was holding a bake sale to raise still needed funds. As a member of this team, I steeled myself. I would be baking a ton of goodies and I am a cookie-dough eating, Ineedtotastethistomakesureitsgood type of baker. I decided to make some banana bread muffins with coconut flour and coconut oil and when they came out of the oven they looked like very dense, very hard hockey pucks. Almost without thinking, I ate one to see if they were sell-able. And I felt horrible, not physically, but mentally. I was on day 27 and the rules state I should start over, but I just couldn’t. The issue was the sugar in the muffins. I sent Lori a text and she encouraged me and told me to focus on what I had learned and what I had accomplished.

And it really made me realize I didn’t want to have that food anyway. I baked four dozen cookies and other goodies and wasn’t even tempted. During the whole bake sale I didn’t even lick my fingers when frosting got on them. That one stumble kept me going through the remaining days.

I am in the reintroduction phase now and it is going well. I find I don’t really want to add back in some food groups. I have gone back to half and half in my coffee, and did treat myself to some good quality ice cream, but food doesn’t have that control over me any longer. I no longer crave sugar. I haven’t bought any chocolate for my daily “treats”. I no longer see food as “treats”. I am treating my body well. At the store the other day, I saw ripe pineapples and my mouth began to water. I look forward to cooking and I look forward to how I feel afterward. Not bloated. Not so full. Not like I need to spend time on the couch to recover.

And the not being in pain is absolutely amazing.

So, here’s what I learned…in no particular order.

·        Learning that food is fuel for your mind and body is powerful information.

·        Eating protein at every meal is the key. I never realized how little protein I actually ate before…no wonder I always felt hungry.

·        Sugar is hidden in our food…from 22g in a Whooper to 15g in sausage.

·        Reading labels is absolutely necessary to know what is actually in our food.

·        Realizing you are using food as a crutch for your emotions is equally powerful information.

·        Avocados are good in everything.

*     I love steak!

·        I eat way more food than I used to.

·        Total weight loss is 6lbs.

·        People don’t like when you try to change your life.

·        People change their minds about not liking you trying to change your life when they see you transform.

·        It took two weeks to develop the habit of planning, cooking, and eating well.

·        Food is not “bad”.

·        You have to decide to do this on your own.

·        Knowledge is power.

 Salmon over mango salsa with roasted veggies.

 Talapia salad with grilled veggies.

Quick lunch of salmon cakes, grilled avocado, tomatoes, and yellow peppers.

So, my Whole30 journey has been very positive. I feel great and my life truly did change in just thirty days. I would encourage everyone to make your life better and it really does start with food.

Happy eating!

*It Starts with Food by Dallas Hartwig & Melissa Hartwig

*The Whole30 by Dallas Hartwig & Melissa Hartwig