My last post listed the foods that I had to give up for the Whole30.
This post will list the things I'm gaining for the Whole30. Not all food related. Which is part of the non-food benefits of the Whole30 in the first place.
1. First of all, I'm prioritizing time with friends (during vacation) and my photography hobby. I took this photo with my submersible camera in a tide pool. Awesomeness!
2. I can still drink really good coffee on the Whole30. I finally made it to the Portola Coffee Lab in Costa Mesa, CA. Fantastic cup of coffee. All served up by people wearing lab coats and brewing using lab looking instruments. Dream come true! Very much worth the trip if you are in Orange County, CA. It is not far from John Wayne Airport and IKEA.
Skip the bread.... really, your body will thank you!, as the label suggests and use it for meat. I've also been using coconut oil (chicken and Brussels sprouts) and avocado oil (on shrimp) just a little bit more.
4. I'm sleeping more soundly and winding down at night much easier. I get very tired, in a relaxing sort of "sleep now this minute" sleep. Less time on the internet or TV. That's okay with me.
6. Headache free so far. I do get occasional headaches. None so far.
7. A little less stressed and more focused. We'll see how long it lasts!
That's it so far. I've adapted pretty well with my to-go snacks and I've adjusted what I need to pack in my lunch. As long as I batch cook ahead and plan ahead, it's very doable.
Any questions? Anyone with plans to do a Whole30 this year?
While I'm not officially doing a Whole30,I am eating strict Paleo right now and I have to agree that I feel totally focused and clear. That is my favorite side effect about eating this way. Being clear headed allows me to make decisions & handle stress much better than before. People may think that being more decisive & focused is not that big of a deal...I think it's just because they don't realize how clouded their brains are from all the sugar and junk we eat!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn,
DeleteThe clear headed stuff is fantastic. I agree, when you've been foggy brained for a while, the clarity and calm focus is a really an eye opener. Good luck with your Cross fit competition.
Don't you love it when you notice your "things you've gained....." lists transitioning from food related things to life enhancing things which have nothing to do with food?
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon
DeleteIt's good to have the non-food benefits. They help drive and motivate the day in and day out food choices and motivation to get in there cook, shop , and clean up! Life is richer that way.
I'm sure I will do a Whole 30 again this year. Just as a challenge to show myself that I CAN; I don't get any spectacular weight loss or improved physical feelings from it; as far as I can tell, I don't have any food sensitivities and the only things I eliminate from my habitual diet to do a Whole 30 are like 1/2 c. Greek yogurt a day, the occasional 1/2 c. of brown rice, and peanut butter. But I like to detox off peanut butter for at least a month once a year so I just roll it into that. I love reading about people who DO have amazing epiphanies from doing a Whole 30 in place of their usual SAD or "lite" processed foods, and am always so happy when they use that experience as a catalyst to go forward eating a clean diet permanently.
ReplyDeleteI hear you Norma. I got off peanut butter. Then I switched to almond butter. I liked it a little too much, so I'm nut butter free. I find if there is an item that "I just have to have" then it probably is a red flag and I should just not have it at all.
DeleteI imagine going from a SAD to a Whole30 would be quite a 180! Glad you gave the Whole30 a try.
I took note of the seasoning, always on the look out for new ones. And a big pat on the back for sleeping more sound/winding down easier, that is a big one :)
ReplyDeleteDo you think the headaches/allergies were caused by one of the foods you elimanated so far?
Hi Simply Me. I'm not sure why I have the headaches. Probably a combo of allergies, stress, and dehydration? When I have all 3 it's a perfect storm. They are sinus in nature.
DeleteI plan to bring food back in one by one (this is really hard to do, because I have to wait 3-4 days for each food item). If I re-introduce food slowly like that, I'll know if the food was a trigger.