#SeptemberWhole30

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A couple of years ago I attempted the Whole30 and didn't succeed. I made it about halfway through and quit it. I don't remember if I got sick, just sneaked something and completely ruined it, or it was just my horrible ability to follow through on something that caused me to quit. But, I did. Today, I began Whole30 again. It's been around for a bit now and it's a big trend that many people follow. If you aren't familiar with the program, check out their website for SO MUCH information. The ground rules are: whole foods only...which means eliminating sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, and dairy from your diet. A.k.a. taking away all the good things, most would say. 

The last time I attempted Whole30, I'm not sure I was as prepared as I am this time. Although, there are still moments where I'm like, do I really want to do this or can I do this? And I'm only halfway through Day 1. But, the reality is, it's only 30 days. Breaking it down into weeks and meals makes it seem much more doable. Will it be hard? Yeah, probably. Will I miss some things? Most definitely. I love food you guys. It's not a secret. But, I also think I have a problem with food. I definitely don't eat as I should. I eat crappy 85% of the time. I eat out for MANY of my meals, which I feel leads me into spending more money. One thing many people say is that Whole30 is expensive.  And while it's true that it can be, I honestly think I spend more money eating out than I do buying groceries and cooking for myself. So, why not take all that money I would use to eat out and buy things that actually help me? I will probably end up eating a lot of the same things and I won't be buying everything organic or grass-fed. I'm single and work in ministry and have student loans to pay. I don't have money to buy different aminos or flax seed everything. Meat and veggies? Possible and doable. Doesn't have to be crazy. 

Also, I know that because I have it in my head to do it now, I NEED to do it now. Despite September being the start of college football weekends (Roll Tide), an out of town weekend trip, birthday celebrations, and a wedding at the end of the month. I could find an excuse for every month of the year. So, I'm stopping the excuses and I'm doing this! 

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My Whole30 Guidelines*:

1. Eat at the table. | With no distractions like phone or TV. 
2. Grocery shop and meal prep/plan on Fridays. | This is my off day, so it makes the most sense. Because this Whole30 started on a Friday, I did some of this yesterday and will finish today.
3. Record what I eat. | I find that I do better when I journal what I eat. So, I'll be putting it all in on the MyFitnessPal app and posting here on the blog every Wednesday. 
4. Make "favorite" meal once a week. | When I find something I like, I'm keeping it in the rotation! It will be one less meal I need to plan and I will look forward to it.
5. Three meals a day. | Duh. That's what is recommended. Some people eat more, some less. However, I'm actually horrible at eating three meals a day. Mainly because I don't eat breakfast and on my days off and weekends, I can go hours without eating and then just snack and have a big, horrible dinner. 
6. No eating past 7PM. | It's best to not eat a couple hours before going to bed and I chose 7PM because...
7. Begin going to bed at 10PM and waking up at 5AM. | I love my sleep and I need at least 7 hours to function. Waking up at 5AM gives me plenty of time to eat breakfast and have some quiet time before starting my day. This will vary on the weekends I'm sure, but for during the week, this is especially important!
8. Eat Meal 1 around 5:30AM. Eat Meal 2 around 12PMish. Eat Meal 3 around 5:30/6PMish. | There are "-ish's" on these because I'm not exactly sure yet and it will probably change based on days. But, because of #6 and #7, these are mostly set with some wiggle room.
9. No coffee after 12PM. Must eat Meal 1 BEFORE getting to drink coffee. | This one will be hard, because I love coffee at all times of the day. I need to get in the habit of eating breakfast, and so, I'm basically using coffee as a reward in the morning instead of it being part of my actual breakfast/Meal 1. 
10. Keep snacking to a minimum! | This is going to be a huge part of it for me. I'm a big snacker, especially while watching TV, reading, etc. 
11. Protein. | Portion is to be the size of my palm at least and be included in every meal.
12. Vegetables. | Portion is to be the rest of my plate and goal is to have at least two kinds of veggies on plate.
13. Fruit. | Portion is to be the size of my fist and have one to two servings per day.
14. Fats. | Portion will vary depending on whether it is oil, butter, nuts/seeds, avocado, or coconut milk. There should be one or more fat sources for every meal. 
15. No weighing during the 30 days. | This is about more than weight loss. Although that will be a great success if it happens, this is more about my relationship with food and how it affects me. I'm looking to change when I eat, why I eat (because I need to, not because of my mood or emotions), and how I eat. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin, feel good in the clothes I wear, get rid of acne, stop having random headaches, and more. 
16. No recreating foods to make them Whole30 approved. | Pastries, sweets, and bread are my top three food weaknesses. I can't be trusted to be anywhere near them. But, for real, the goal is to eat well and fuel my body well. Ultimately, be a good steward of the body that God has given me. 

*These are guidelines I set for myself after I read It Starts With Food. It helps me reach other personal goals, not all are actually set by Whole30. 

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Are you doing #Whole30September?
Have you completed it before and doing it again or is this your first attempt?
​I'm up for any and all helpful tips and recipes! 

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